I don't like to eat in front of people

I didn't have a problem until I was around nine. Of course I had been to fast foods places and other types of restaurants before then but I don't remember being anxious.

Then all of a sudden I went to a particular fast food place with relatives and I got extremely anxious. I thought everybody was watching me eat and I was afraid to swallow. My relatives didn't notice and I doubt if anyone else noticed either but I remember feeling very uncomfortable.

I realize it's normal for people to watch others (in a casual way) while they eat. It's hard not to do when you're at the mall. Anyway, I use a lot of napkins since I put one over my mouth while eating. I don't want people to watch me swallow. I don't want people to see me chew or anything that involves eating. I would be happy if I could spend the rest of my life not eating out or eating in front of people including family members.

Does anybody else have the same problem?

Before I got my anxiety more under control, I had this problem. I stopped eating out in public altogether. I couldn't handle it. I felt like everyone was watching me & judging me & making fun of me. No real reason. Just felt that way. It took me a long time to be able to eat out in public again, & I still get nervous sometimes, depending on where I am.

I dislike it... used to be worse than I am now.

I went through a stage like that. Then my life changed so much that I would have starved if I hadn't eaten in front of people lol. When I first began SSRI and SNRI along w/ anxiolytics I began a life where I had lunch and dinner at least 4 days a week with friends and strangers. I'm not sure if the meds helped or hunger and survival instinct
Still bothers me a bit but my life has swung around 180 degrees again and I rarely eat in public.
I have trouble swallowing at times actually. Do you?

Mine improves when I'm not feeling so self conscious but it doesn't go away completely. I noticed how often I put a napkin over my mouth even if I'm eating alone. It's definitely not because I'm so well mannered. lol


I also have choking spells when I'm under a lot of stress like now. A few yrs. ago I found out that I have hypothyroidism and was placed on synthroid. The dr. did an ultrasound to see if I have a growth and fortunately I don't.

I wish I could stop putting my hand around my neck in public too--not that I do it in private. lol

My throat has always felt vulnerable. Guys have always commented on what a pretty throat I have as if they were going for my jugular at any minute. A lot of old issues are coming up lately.

I've been told that the swallowing problem is nerves. As in anx/stress. I believe it but it doesn't help much. I can go months w/o it happening and then out of nowhere and for no apparent reason it will happen. And once it happens I become so conscious of it that I lose confidence in swallowing an that only makes it worse. Typical anxiety MO.
It seems that you have a good idea of what is going on with yours. Next step is what to do about it. I've found the best response to self-consciousness is NGAF. Need a translation?
Smiling at your pretty throat problem. It isn't your jugular they are after