I have a phobia of vomiting in front of people. I've had this for a long time and have been to counselling/therapy/tried mindfulness/been on medication from my GP and I've mostly got a grip of it now but one thing I still can't deal with very well is eating in social situations.
The only way I can explain this is imagine feeling very sick in a restaurant and then being handed a plate of food in front of you to put in your stomach. It's really tough for me and I know it sounds pathetic. I have actually vomited before from my emetophobia after forcing myself to eat which is always at the back of my mind because I know it might actually happen.
The few times I have gone to restaurants I've ended up barely eating and then people make comments about it. I worry about being judged by DPs family as I really want them to like me which makes the anxiety worse and so I just can't bring myself to go to family meals with them.
This fear ruins all-sorts, it stops me going on holidays as I know I'll probably have to eat out, work dos etc. Me and DP never go restaurants because of it. My family has kinda gotten used to it because I've been like this for a while but I'm 1 and a half years into a relationship with DP and we keep getting invited to family events/meals as you do and I keep turning it down as I keep thinking I'll end up throwing up infront of all them while they're trying to eat and embarrassing myself.
I asked DP to explain this to his family for me and he has but it means he often goes to these things without me and I feel like such an idiot and worry what they must think of me :(
It honestly gets me down so much because I know on the face value of it all to someone who does not understand I feel like I just seem like a weirdo and a bit rude.