Food issues...

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I've got a heap of issues when it comes to food and eating, in a social context ... it's difficult to decide where to begin.

Firstly, how can I stop getting really tense whenever I'm eating out somewhere? I'm still not exactly sure why, but even the words "let's go to lunch at [insert place here]" are enough to make me completely tense up. Usually if I go out with someone to lunch, i'll appear to be fairly calm, but internally I'll be in complete panic mode, to the point where I start to feel sick in the stomach at times. It also makes forcing down food a bit difficult as well. It's usually not the food itself which makes me tense, because i'll feel completely calm if I'm eating, say, McDonalds in the privacy of my own home. But if I'm at McDonalds with friends, then it's almost as if my appetite has shrunken to about 1/8th of the size. o.O

Secondly, how are you supposed to refuse food in a social context? For instance, if I'm at a friend's place, they bring in a plate of cakes or something else which is quite tasty, but I really don't feel like it. What's the best way to tell them no, without insulting them?

Thirdly, how do you deal with food which you don't like? Eg, i'll take the friend's place scenario a bit further: they ask me to stay for dinner, I say "sure, why not." I get to the dinner table, and it's something awful which I know I won't be able to eat. Or even worse, it's something that looks absolutely delicious, and I find it to be abhorrent on the first bite. What's the best way out of this?

Ideas, but warning! maybe bad advice:

1.anxiety medicine (xanax)
2."I'm too full /can't eat any more right now"
3."I'm lactose intolerant/ allergic to something/ can't swallow something/ have a belly ache/ etc..."

This is actually quite common. I have known people with this. My friend has something similar in hat he will have panic attacks afterwards for fear of vomiting.

I think CBT may help. I don't think anxiety drug will work on its own because you have to break the cycle.

I am on GFCF diet mange to handle the question quite well. Even just say you are a picky eater in advance.

people ive gone out to food with are more intrested in taking than eating, it probably hasnt changed in thosands of years and never will. me i just ask for more of the hottest hotsauce the houseeeeee hasssssssssssssssss

good to see ya RB

oh well thank you 0_Equals_true. its good to see you as well