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Original poster

Food health anxiety please help

13 replies

musicinspring1 · 31/12/2023 21:29

Please be kind. I'm at someone else's house hiding having a panic attack.
A take away was ordered and someone put the plastic containers in a warm unheated over for 10 minutes to keep warm. Someone unknowingly turned on the oven. It was realised but container lids had slightly melted.
Everyone else happy to still eat so I did a bit too bit now am upstairs having a panic attack we are all poisoned and I've made myself feel quite ill.
Rational thoughts please ?

OP posts:
Original poster
musicinspring1 · 31/12/2023 21:34

Anyone ?

OP posts:
flufalump · 31/12/2023 21:46

Oh i hope you are ok. You will not be ill from this, you will all be fine. Deep breaths and a cold glass of water might help

Original poster
musicinspring1 · 31/12/2023 22:22

Thank you @flufalump I feel so ill I've come home but trying to tell myself it's anxiety :(

OP posts:
WooWooWinnie · 31/12/2023 22:25

Seeing as it was a one-off, unless you were actually eating lumps of molten plastic, I think you’ll be fine (to be honest I expect you’d be fine even if you’d eaten the plastic). Probably not ideal to be doing long term, but I don’t think this one scenario is going to do any damage. If everything tasted fine I wouldn’t worry about it.

Greenshake · 31/12/2023 22:31

It will be absolutely fine, please don’t let this ruin your night. Happy New Year 🙂

Greentomatoes21 · 31/12/2023 22:31

Hope you're ok. Sounds like really horrible anxiety. I would not be remotely worried about the original issue but really feel for you as I know anxiety does not have an off switch. Deep breaths, maybe a walk round the garden, start a job in the house like reorganising a messy cupboard or kids' toys - something that will occupy your mind a bit but doesn't involve intense concentration.

Original poster
musicinspring1 · 31/12/2023 22:33

Thanks all. I feel really awful and can't bring myself out of it. Will try and sleep it off but can't shake the worry. It's horrible. Thanks for trying to help. :(

OP posts:
AllAroundMyCat · 31/12/2023 23:03

You'll be fine.

LightSwerve · 31/12/2023 23:12

It is anxiety, but I understand how horrible it can be.

My feeling is that even if you did eat a piece of that plastic, it wouldn't really do anything. What you could possibly have eaten would be more neutral on your system than for example drinking a bottle of vodka, smoking or taking drugs, which lots of people do all the time.

People swallow things like batteries, have them removed and are absolutely OK.

Catsandcuddles · 31/12/2023 23:31

I dont really know what to say to make you feel better, but I just wanted to say that I hope you are OK and i emphasise with you as I have sufferered with this myself

.Food health anxiety is a real thing and although you know the thoughts are iirrational, it doesn't stop you worrying . Don't feel silly about it.

Is this a one off event , or does food anxiety affect your daily life ?

Original poster
musicinspring1 · 01/01/2024 08:40

@Catsandcuddles it affects my daily life but I feel I can't do anything about it as people will confirm my anxieties. E.g. if I went to a Dr and explained my worries about last night I'm convinced they'll confirm I ate poison :(

OP posts:
Catsandcuddles · 01/01/2024 09:51

If it affects your daily life, have you considered looking at cognitive behavioural therapy? Either GP can refer you or you can do a self referral.now I think.

I suffered for about 8 years and my anxiety was becomming really bad and affecting my daily life, I knew it needed to make a change when I had my child .

I'm not completely free of anxiety, but CBT helped me massively and has drastically improved my life. Anxiety can make you really poorly and is horrible to live with, please consider getting help

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 01/01/2024 15:17

it affects my daily life but I feel I can't do anything about it as people will confirm my anxieties. E.g. if I went to a Dr and explained my worries about last night I'm convinced they'll confirm I ate poison :(

Hi OP, this actually reinforces your anxiety because you're worrying about the doctor confirming your belief - whereas if you talked to them they'd tell you it's nothing to worry about, you didn't eat any plastic and anyway even if a sliver did make it into your food it's not poison - food companies aren't in the business of killing their customers.

Go to the doctor and get reassurance. Are you getting any help for your anxiety? I found CBT helpful

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Panic/Panic---Information-Sheets/Panic-Information-Sheet---03---The-Vicious-Cycle-of-Anxiety.pdf

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