i have anxiety about eating in public...?

Question

this really emabrassing and irrational, but this is what happens when i eat in public.

an example is today and every other time i l eat in public, i went to some place in my school that serves sandwiches and hot food. with the hot food you can chose what you like and the sandwhiches just coome in a plastic case. now im not fat, but im not the thinnest person and iam really self concious about my weight. i am too afraid to choose the hot food because i think it will prove that i take an interest in my food and that i really enjoy eating. which i do, but i dont get overjoyed about eating. when i go out to eat i am afraid of ordering anything to specific on the menu. basically its the same concept. i am concious about how much food i leave on my plate. sometimes i position my plate and silverware towards my parents if i am out eating with them to make it look i didnt, god forbid, eat all of my food. i eat very carefully. anyway, how stupid and irrational is this...?

who doesnt want to enjoy their food? it doesnt make us pigs, right? soemone tell me that no one gives a flying fu*k about what or how i am eating. ive gotten better, but i have not cured my anxiety when eating thatnks. and are any of you like me?

i am with a therapist but i havent gone into detail about this yet.

Answer 1

We all have things we are anxious about. First step is to ACCEPT that you have this issue and not beat yourself up about it. I can't drive in a car unless I am drivng it. That's my phobia. But believe me, no one cares what you are eating. You are not the center of anyone's attention but yourself. It is sad that society has made you feel so conscious about your weight that it makes you feel conscious about what you eat. Pelase talk to your therapist about this. That is what therapy is for. I have told therapists all kinds of things, and they've heard it all before.

Answer 2

Why are you so concerned about what other people are thinking? Are you a mind reader that you can tell what others are thinking? Girls and guys are self-conscious about how they look which makes you normal in your behavior to this point but to be so anxious about what you will or not eat seems worrisome. Tell your friends and parents that you have decided to go on a diet and you are seeking their support when it comes to food; they will be there to help you and you can then eat what you want and enjoy what you eat. Hey, who doesn't enjoy a good banana split? You decide how much you want to eat of it. So go out and eat what you like and who cares what others think, you will never make others happy so make yourself happy; be happy don't worry goes the song.

Answer 3

Well, you appear to have a phobia--an irrational fear. Rationally, you should know that when you are in a restaurant or cafeteria, all the other people are too busy eating their food or talking to their companions to even notice what you are doing or eating. Why do you think that everyone is looking at you? Why should they be even remotely interested in what you are consuming? They really couldn't care less. So, you just have to tell that to yourself over and over. It's really nobody's business anyway. Just eat for godsake! There are kids starving all over the world; they would love the hot food and sandwiches and wouldn't give a damn who saw them eat it. Just get over yourself.

Answer 4

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 5

Um. Not that irrational. Just a habit. I have a thing where the volume on the tv has to end with a 0 or a 5.

Drives me crazy when I can't get it like that. Like when it's at 14. God, I hate that.

Answer 6

Noone notices what you eat, especially if they're eating too. You have to eat to live, everyone that i know knows that. It sounds like you have a real problem with this, one that you need to go into detail with your therapist about and not try to get a quick fix on here. Good luck!

Answer 7

It's ok to be self concious about that. I am to (going through right now) but I learn to not let other people control what you do and when they judge you it's just their personal opinion, not the truth, you know what I'm trying to get accross? It means that the way they judge you is NOT WHO YOU REALLY ARE! I'm 13 and I've learned that skill I don't know how old you are but I wish you best of luck on what you do :)

Answer 8

If you're seeing a therapist, bring it up the next time you're with them. Your food anxiety could lead to much worse issues, i.e. disordered eating and full blown eating disorders, if you don't seek out help. Don't wait for your therapist to bring it up.

Answer 9

what you consider to be irrational thoughts really are just manifestations of how you feel your PARENTS will perceive you if you eat or enjoy your food; these feelings follow you into other areas of your life. It doesn't matter where you go to eat or who you are with, you will feel this way until you come to an understanding that it's ok for you to enjoy your food and screw anyone else who shares the antithesis ok!

TELL YOUR THERAPIST WHAT YOU'VE SAID HERE. THEY ARE THERE TO LISTEN WITHOUT JUDGMENT, ok.

Answer 10

are you starving your self? that would be bad. But i see wher your comming from. i used to fear that my little brothers were staring at me and i fel like i was 2 big to eat.....yea, bad idea.

Maybe, if you want to get better, tell your therapist. im sure he/she'll help u.

like, maybe, you could have diner at your friends houe to help feel more confortable with this....



Your brave, i didnt tell anyone about my fears untill it was over....