What to Do If You Fear Eating in Public

What to Do If You Fear Eating in Public Social Anxiety Disorder Coping Print Social Anxiety and the Fear of Eating in Front of Others By Arlin Cuncic Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder and 7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety. Learn about our editorial policy Arlin Cuncic Reviewed by Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW on August 30, 2019 facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, author of the bestselling book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Dont Do, and a highly sought-after speaker. Learn about our Wellness Board Amy Morin, LCSW Updated on September 11, 2019 Social Anxiety Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children In This Article Table of Contents Expand Triggers Fears Research Treatment View All The fear of eating in front of others can wreak havoc on your social life, work prospects,  and adjustment to college. Socializing usually includes some form of food and drink. Business meetings sometimes take place over lunch or dinner. College cafeterias can be crowded. If eating and drinking in front of others causes you extreme anxiety, you may either endure these situations with great discomfort or avoid them altogether. Avoidance creates a vicious cycle in that the more narrow your life becomes, the harder you will find it to eat and drink in front of others. You may find yourself turning down invitations or making choices that dont require eating in front of others, such as eating in your dorm room rather than meeting new friends in the cafeteria. Triggers of Fear of Eating in Public Fear of eating and drinking in front of others can be triggered by a wide variety of situations, foods  and dining companions. Some people feel anxious in every situation in which they must eat or drink in front of others, while others fear specific settings such as formal banquets or dinner parties.Certain individuals become anxious only when eating in front of authority figures. On the other hand, some may be anxious even when eating in front of people whom they know well.Some may become more fearful if they are in a crowded restaurant as compared to dining in a quiet atmosphere with only a few companions. If you are like most people with a fear of eating, your level of anxiety probably escalates in proportion to how difficult the food is to eat. Foods that require utensils such as salads, soup, and dishes with sauces are usually the most anxiety-provoking.Potentially messy foods such as spaghetti will be more anxiety-provoking because there is a greater likelihood of embarrassment while eating.Finger foods are usually the least threatening.Type of beverage does not usually influence the level of fear, although drinks that are more likely to stain, such as red wine, may provoke more anxiety. Fears If you have a fear of eating or drinking in front of others, there is probably a long list of embarrassing events that you worry might happen in these situations. They may include some of the following: Your hands will shake.You will spill your food or drink.You will choke on your food and draw attention to yourself.You will vomit or lose control of your bowels.You will look unattractive while eating.You will become flushed from eating spicy food. Research Underlying all of these fears is the fear of being negatively evaluated by others.  Indeed, a 2015 study found that this fear of negative evaluation explained part of the relationship between social anxiety and aspects of disordered eating.?? In addition, a 2012 study found that social appearance anxiety (the fear that you will be negatively evaluated for your appearance) may predict symptoms of both social anxiety and eating disorder symptoms.?? As a result, modifying those underlying negative beliefs or negative social evaluation fears is what is needed to treat this type of disordered eating, rather than a focus on specific issues with eating. Treating a Fear of Eating in Public If difficulty eating in front of others is causing significant impairment in your daily life, and you have not been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, consider making an appointment with your family doctor for further assessment and possible treatment. When the fear of eating or drinking in front of others is a symptom of social anxiety disorder or SAD (about 20% of people diagnosed with SAD have this fear??), treatment in the form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) is usually recommended. CBT involves the identification of negative automatic thoughts and the replacement of these thoughts with more rational thinking patterns. In addition, some form of exposure training usually complements the practice of cognitive restructuring. This may involve actual eating and drinking scenarios in which other group participants act as dining companions. If your anxiety about eating in front of others is due to an eating disorder, or a combination of an eating disorder and SAD, then treatment will need to be tailored to your unique situation. In addition, if you experience  generalized SAD, or your symptoms do not respond to therapy, medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be advised. A Word From Verywell If you are experiencing difficulty eating in front of others, consider the source of your anxiety. Are you worried about how others will perceive you or more worried about eating the actual food itself? Ask yourself these questions to better understand your own disordered eating patterns and what the next steps may be.