Mental issues with eating in cafeterias, or anywhere public . . .?

Question

I always feel like Im going to get sick in front of everybody at school, any suggestions?

Answer 1

Most people occasionally feel the familiar signs of nervousness when meeting new people or speaking in front of a group. But for people with social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, these signs of nervousness are much worse. Their fear of everyday social situations makes it very difficult for them to function on a daily basis.

Social anxiety disorder affects about 10.5 million Americans in any given year. Social anxiety disorder occurs more often in women than in men.

Social anxiety disorder affects people in different ways. Sometimes a person with this condition may be afraid only of specific types of situations, such as speaking in public or eating and drinking in front of others. A person with social anxiety disorder may experience symptoms any time he or she is around other people. In fact, a person may have such severe symptoms that he or she may avoid going to work or school or have difficulty making or keeping friends.

People with social anxiety disorder have an extreme, constant fear of one or more social or public situations. This fear severely disrupts day-to-day functioning. Other symptoms of social anxiety disorder may include:

Avoiding social situations
Intense self-consciousness in social settings
Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling, fast heartbeat, and nausea
Unreasonable fear of embarrassment
People with social anxiety disorder often have more self-consciousness and anxiety than usual before and during social events. In stressful situations, people with social anxiety disorder often have increased physical symptoms, which in turn can raise their level of anxiety and self-consciousness even more.

Studies have shown that people with social anxiety disorder often experience other types of emotional health problems as well:

They often suffer from depression
They may abuse alcohol or drugs to reduce fear in social settings
They may have other anxiety disorders as well
What causes social anxiety disorder?
The causes of social anxiety disorder are unknown, but it may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain. Serotonin and norepinephrine are 2 chemicals used by some nerve cells to communicate. These chemicals, along with other neurotransmitters, are thought to be linked to social anxiety disorder. Therefore, medications that affect these neurotransmitters may play a role in treating social anxiety disorder.

Take action if you believe you suffer from social anxiety disorder
Treatments are available that can help people with social anxiety disorder get back to their lives again. Talk with your doctor about your treatment options. The right treatment could help you reach the goal of therapy — virtual elimination of symptoms and keeping them from coming back.

Answer 2

Keep in mind that cafeterias (especially in schools) are kept very clean because they're feeding the taxpayer's kids and god forbid a parent got back there and the place was a mess...you really shouldn't worry too much about germs...as for the doneness of the food, stick to things that are more safe...such as pizza and salads...if you still have a problem buy a ginger ale to drink, the ginger settles your stomach...If it's not the food that's a problem, you could have a phobia associated with either the size of the room, the number of people around you or something else...maybe try telling the school nurse...she might be able to arrange for you to eat lunch somewhere else...or try starting up a club that meets at lunch time...when in doubt, take a deep breath, count to ten and ask to be excused to the bathroom...

Answer 3

AHA~ That is a problem that someone I know had. It's the feeling that you are going to vomit, or that your stomach is going to chuck as fit, which can actually lead to vomiting...
right?

It took ages for my bf to overcome it. It got to a stage that he just couldn't go out to eat with me, and I'd be eating more than him, making me feel so darn self conscious.

I can only tell you that it is ALL psychological, which means, if you can stop thinking about it, the feeling will go away. But it will take quite a bit of determination. I think you can start off with eating at a place with less people in it, and just eating with your friends, or even by yourself, and once you've gotten through that environment, then move on to a place with more people. Or you could see a doctor and just talk things through with them, because usually, there is a reason behind this issue.

Wish you the best of luck.

Answer 4

Panic disorder is frequently associated with eating and social anxiety
doesn't help.

Panic disorder is often triggered by lack of oxygen in your system caused
by you not breathing for some reason.

Are you breathing normally when you take a bite? Do you breathe
through your nose or your mouth? How quickly do you eat?

In private, you have learned to eat at your own pace and perhaps
avoid many of the triggers.

Answer 5

OK do not think you are mental or beat yourself up over this. The reason people are so wonderful is the differences. You need to see a doctor and explain your situation sounds like my son he has anxiety. He will not eat in school either. He has a huge breakfast then drinks milk at school during lunch after school he has a late lunch. Works for him .

Answer 6

You probably have some form of social anxiety. Some people with social anxiety (like meself!) can't eat in public without being 'scared' or have a 'bad feeling'. If you think that your anxiety is holding you back from doing normal, everyday activities, I would see a psychologist.

Answer 7

to be honest if you do feel that way then noone can stop you...like the girl said below it is just nerves but everyone spills stuff everyone gets sick, everyone gets dirty so basically its jus a routine...u dont wanna b the kid wit the food stuck in ur teeth and all that stuff so all u gotta do is jus relax and b ur self if u dnt think bout gettin sick then youll be jus fine

Answer 8

Perhaps you have agro-phobia; you feel anxious around people.
Talk to the psychologist

Answer 9

it's just nerves.