Fighting Phobia habits at Dinner Time

[leeannc28]

Tonight I half way gave in to the old habits where I have to check the expiration labels of everything I eat to see if it's still good; and re-cook food given to me; and avoid eating at the dinner table. I avoided the dinner table and ate a couple hand fulls of chips. I was so hungry I couldn't focus and waited for everyone to leave the kitchen, then went to the kitchen and ate some of the steamed broccoli, roast, and potatoes. I had half a cup of mashed potatoes, 2 small slices of meat and 1 piece of broccoli. I gave one slice of meat, the third, to my dog because it was already sliced and didnt know why the others didnt want to eat it so I felt something might have been wrong with it. I couldnt eat the other broccoli because i didnt like the color of it it was half yellowed; and started feeling full by the time I ate the potatoes.

I ate the meat w/o heating it, and I stopped myself from looking into the garbage to find the wrapping [to check the exp date]. My mom came back and was right there, and I just couldnt bring myself to do that in front of anyone. Besides I was so hungry I'd already eaten the meat so even if the date was expired I'd already have to deal with it. Im debating eating more meat and potatoes, because I liked the taste but I feel full. Maybe later tonight. If I get food poisoning Ive got between now and 3 days...and I just want to enjoy eating again. And after writing all that I am reaffirmed that I AM in fact still a pretty obsessive emet. Not panicky exactly, but obsessive...*sigh*


How about you guys, do you have any terrible food habits?

[olschesky]

sounds like you did really well........i'm sure all the food was fine and hopefully one day you will just eat without worrying....

i must say i think i would rather obsess than panic........

[Coco]

Hey, don't worry. We all do things like that.
I can't eat at the dinner table - I have to eat in front of the TV. I hate eating in front of people too. I'm a vegetarian so I don't deal with the meat issue - which is good! Haha, I find it really difficult to eat out in restaurants and get take-aways because I think, you know, what if they had a sick bug? Or didn't wash their hands properly. I know that it sounds really stupid and sometimes, insane. But it's not, you just need to teach yourself, that's what my counsellor says! She says you just have to train yourself to have trust in the food companies and the people who cook your meals.
Don't worry, just take it easy. The meat was probably fine. If the dog doesn't get sick, neither will you!

[Francesca]

Oh gee, let's see....

I'm still very fussy about food handling and preparation and expiration dates but for many years I had MANY strange food habits:

1. I didn't eat any meat of any kind because my brain told me that food poisoning from that was far worse than food poisoning from, say, vegetables. (which is NOT true)

2. I would throw perfectly good food out a full week before the best before date "just in case".

3. I never ate in restaurantes or anything anyone other than myself cooked.

4. I ate very small portions because if I were to vomit, there would be less to throw up.

5. I couldn't eat at the table with other people. I had to eat alone.

6. I used to get anxious after I ate anything, so I'd count the hours I thought it would take me to completely digest the food until I could feel "safe" again. Depending on the food, I'd wait 8 hours... other times a full 16.

7. If I had anywhere to go, or if someone was coming to my home for any reason, I would not eat AT ALL until after the fact.

8. During family get-togethers, like Christmas, I couldn't eat with the family if I hadn't done the cooking, but I'd take some home because on some level I trusted that person's cooking, but I'd wait until the next day and if nobody got sick, I'd then eat it.

9. When preparing food, especially if meat was involved, I would have to bleach the hell out of every surface, repeatedly. So it would take me FOREVER to prepare a meal... which is another reason I very rarely ever had company during the worst of my emetophobia.

10. I would avoid all cream-based foods (salad dressings, etc) and opt instead for vinegar or lemon based foods because the acidity in those kills germs.

11. I would always have a glass of red wine with my dinner, because I read somewhere that a glass of wine wards off food poisoning if the food is slightly off.

[itzxsarah]

I'm my version of emet is a lot like yours, a little less obsessive though because I usually worry about other people v* instead of me. I trust that my mom makes is okay and everything, but when ever I eat snacks with my friends I check the expiration date on EVERYTHING, they think it's so annoying haha, oh well better safe than sorry.

[leeannc28]

Oh wow, alot of you have the same habits as me. It might not be the best to have these habits, but it feels good to know Im not all that unique in having them. Im sure if I told other people, even close friends, about these habits they'd be supportive but think I was a bit of a freak. I wouldnt blame them but you know...

My mom straight up tells me sometimes "OMG Lee your like those people on TV! Theyre miserable, do you want to be like that!?" I told a friend of mine later on what she said and how it was stupid of her to try to logically convince me to stop when I already knew that. But then that friend told me that logic can work against phobias, which is true in a way but it also isnt... It really depends on how you go about things imo. The whole trying to embarrass me into stop doing it doesnt help it just makes me that much more of a recluse. I mean, Im not afraid because Im stupid. Geez >:/

[2u4u4ever.com]

You will be just fine. You're an emet right?
Sometimes I think it's hilarious how our stomachs really are The Warriors when it comes to fighting back on you know what, since we never do it because it's not natural to us, but still we constantly seems to feel sick as a result of all that worrying and anxiety. We really are a "sick tribe"!

I love to eat, this might sound strange, i often overeat. I think it's a nervous thing, because when my stomach is empty I always feel sick. When I'm by myself and calm it's okey, visits to restaurants together with others is a challenge every time. I can manage quite alright to fight back on all those irrational thoughts that the food may be contaminated, it's more like I struggle with the experience to really enjoy good food and a good time together with others, which I totally do, and the fear of having the expectations destroyed by sickness is actually making me sick. I'm sure you recognize the vicious cycle. There is actually a term for this and it's a good one - it's called *selfsabotage*.
So dinners with others, especially out at restaurants, means I want to be hungry, otherwise I will be distressed and the sickness may take over. But not too hungry, if it takes too long the stomach needs to be filled ny an apple or so to feel good again, otherwise the sickness may take over and win again and destroy the experience.

I have one a bit obsessive habit when it comes to food. Always overwashing friuts and fresh vegetables in both hot and cold tapwater, just in case the tomato picked up a norovirus at the grocerystore...

[emmalinda]

i am pretty fussy with food as well. i can still eat, but i check everything. I always think my bodys not going to agree with it. i used toavoid foods of a certain colour, but all the colours i avoided are all the foods i love!

[x...RaChE...x]

At dinner time, I eat quite fast so I dont have to think whilst eating, and then I feel sick and full :/ and I get out of the kicthen as quick as possible, go into a different room and shake as I feel it go down... thats a rather bad habit, but Im working on it

[leeannc28]

Just made some waffles today. I checked the butter over and over thinking it had some of that blue stuff on it, and when I tried to tell myself I was being silly I found some! As I was putting it on the waffle. Uuuugh! I really hate this.

[abbu]

I'm exactly the same and I seem to be getting worse again.

[PsyNerd22]

Oh gee, let's see....

I'm still very fussy about food handling and preparation and expiration dates but for many years I had MANY strange food habits:

1. I didn't eat any meat of any kind because my brain told me that food poisoning from that was far worse than food poisoning from, say, vegetables. (which is NOT true)

2. I would throw perfectly good food out a full week before the best before date "just in case".

3. I never ate in restaurantes or anything anyone other than myself cooked.

4. I ate very small portions because if I were to vomit, there would be less to throw up.

5. I couldn't eat at the table with other people. I had to eat alone.

6. I used to get anxious after I ate anything, so I'd count the hours I thought it would take me to completely digest the food until I could feel "safe" again. Depending on the food, I'd wait 8 hours... other times a full 16.

7. If I had anywhere to go, or if someone was coming to my home for any reason, I would not eat AT ALL until after the fact.

8. During family get-togethers, like Christmas, I couldn't eat with the family if I hadn't done the cooking, but I'd take some home because on some level I trusted that person's cooking, but I'd wait until the next day and if nobody got sick, I'd then eat it.

9. When preparing food, especially if meat was involved, I would have to bleach the hell out of every surface, repeatedly. So it would take me FOREVER to prepare a meal... which is another reason I very rarely ever had company during the worst of my emetophobia.

10. I would avoid all cream-based foods (salad dressings, etc) and opt instead for vinegar or lemon based foods because the acidity in those kills germs.

11. I would always have a glass of red wine with my dinner, because I read somewhere that a glass of wine wards off food poisoning if the food is slightly off.

Wow im surprised of how similar or bad habbits are!!
Especially the one #1, 6, and 7

[hairyfairy]

I`m usually fine until I hear or read in the papers that the norovirus is doing the rounds, then I start to worry about every gurgle & sound that my stomach makes., wondering if it`s a sign that I`m getting sick. I haven`t had a bug since I was a teenager, but it doesn`t stop me worrying & scrubbing my hands every time I use a public washroom. Another thing that really gets on my nerves is the way other people don` seem to worry about giving it to other people, go to work & socialise when they have the bug. No wonder it spreads like wildfire every winter! which brings me to the main reason why I hate that time of year. It`s not just the cold that I hate, or the fact that it`s dark most of the time, but the illnesses that are around. I always have a flu jab( I have to pay, as I`m under 65), but when is there going to be a norovirus vaccine? I would be first in line for it.

[emmalinda]

i know what you mean hairy fairy! i get annoyed when i see people not washing their hands or going out of their way to get very close to people and food related areas when they're sick. i know its hard not to do those things but some people seem like they dont even consider being a bit cautious after they v*. (or the people i know anyway. dont know about everyone else). therefore i have to be extra careful and worry about everything i eat then. it sounds selfish and mean but common sense would tell ya to be a bit careful with the things you come in contact with during the day. you dont have to have ocd or emetophobia to know that.

[SparklyxConfetti]

Ahem. Allow me to congratulate you.

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

You did great! I don' usually have many bizarre food habits besides not feeling safe when I eat out. When my meals are cooked my family, I always know how they're feeling, so trust me, if they had noro, I wouldn't let them near ANY food that I could be eating.

[leeannc28]

Sparklyxconfetti: Its good to hear the emet hasn't messed with your eating habits much. It really is frustrating when it does since it's such a daily thing. & Ty, I am generally doing better and not obsessing as much these days, but I do get very wary of food still. I really think I have to be though, since I like to eat a lot of fresh produce and it's not really the season for it anymore...and my mom is a junk food shopper who doesn't really check her produce very well when she buys it. Produce must be inspected! It's not like grabbing a box of crackers X/