A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:for the past year i've been finding it difficult to eat in front of anyone who isn't my immediate family e.g parents. when i eat in front of anyone else i get this relly sicky feeling and when i try and eat i gag. does anyone know what might be wrong with me? any suggestions would be appreciated! P.S previously i was able to eat normally Reply to this Question
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female
reader, starfairy +, writes (19 May 2008):
 You might as well go to the doctor, ee what they have to say. If you can put a name to how you are feeling, quite often it helps...
A
reader, anonymous, writes (19 May 2008): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questioni wouldn't say i have low self esteem i'm pretty much happy with myself and the way i look. i love food and before this started happening i used to be able to eat infront of anyone. it just seems when im about to tuck into a big full course dinner with other people i get this sicky feeling in my stomach.do you think i should go to the doctors in order to overcome this problem im having as i dont want to keep on eating in private!
thank you for answering my question
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (18 May 2008): I don't think this is a disease but a mental issue, such as low-self esteem. You may want to contact your doctor first to rule out certain things, and then he can suggest professional help.
On the other hand, consider this nutty idea first before the doctor:
You could only have a fear what others think. In this case, you can join others at McDonalds one day, and just say "I feel miserably hungry", and then feel crazy and shove the food into your face, making grunting noises and such. Everyone will laugh with you, and maybe this will help you get over it.
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A
female
reader, starfairy +, writes (18 May 2008):
My little step-sister has this problem. She went to see a counsellor and they told her she controls what she eats because she has no control over the rest of her life. She has a fair few issues though, fairly traumatic childhood, and feels unhappy about alot of aspects in her life, so aparently this is how she controls it.
Not saying this applies to you, just sounded familiar when I read it, as she can eat in front of us but will go the whole day at school without eating because she can't eat in front of others.
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A
male
reader, HRJackson90 +, writes (18 May 2008):
 Sounds like anorexia to me, i have a couple of girl mates who got over the problem a year or 2 ago. Are you having low self esteem problems too? I would suggest that if this persists to go talk to your G.P before things get worse because if you are losing weight it could become very very serious, i should know one of my close mates nearly lost their life through anorexia...Also a couple of other signs of anorexia are standing up continuously and playing with or refusing food e.g. picking pieces off of what you are eating and hating those certain fatty foods the most.
Let me know how things go and good luck
Hayden
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (18 May 2008): I have the same "problem". I've been advised by close friends that I have "food issues", but this is not true, at least not in the sense that they mean it. I find eating a disgusting yet necessary practice, and I'd rather people didn't watch me doing it and I'd rather not watch other people do it. This doesn't mean I (or you for that matter) have an eating disorder, it just means we don't like food. If you're still managing a normal diet and have no objections to eating food when you're alone or with your immediate family then you've just got a different attitude to being seen eating. However, if you are suffering any other symptoms of an eating disorder - e.g. being desperately unhappy with your body image and insanely jealous of other peoples' bodies, thinking about or making yourself sick after eating, binge eating, regularly skipping meals - please see someone who can help you.
It is perfectly healthy to manage a full day without eating in the company of others - you can breakfast and have dinner at home, and lunch in private or have a late lunch when you get in at the end of the day. Don't let anyone persuade you it's abnormal or weird; some people are just like this.
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