I'm going on campus and I have trouble eating with other people?

Question

I know it must seem weird, especially for a boy, but I have always had trouble eating in front of others/with other people. I'm 19, and I have always ate alone at home because my family was always working, and I never really ate lunch during high school. I'm extremely shy, but usually if I push myself I can do things. No matter how hard I try though, I can't seem to get over this problem? I don't think anyone at college would understand or think of it as normal, and I really want to try hard to make friends. Is there anything I can do to prepare? I've heard practicing in front the mirror can help? I am leaving for college in a week and I am insanely worried about this issue.. Thanks a lot for reading =D.

Answer 1

I'm a guy, and I have had this problem throughout high school and pretty much everywhere else that I eat.  I don't find it weird because everybody is different and I don't really consider it as "abnormal" behavior either.  In my case, I worry that people are watching how I eat and making comments or something about me eating too fast, too slow, too sloppy...etc.  

I have slowly started to get over it by doing two different things.  The first is that when I'm actually eating the food, I try to focus more on the food itself and usually try to eat in periods when nobody is talking/they are eating their food.  However, when conversation does start, I'll just stop eating for a bit until there is another pause. They may seem like simple/awkward techniques to other people, but like I said, they have helped me.  

Again, I don't find it weird/different, and I'm not really worried/ashamed of it, and you shouldn't be either.  Through time it will most likely fade away.  If not, try not to focus on it so much and that should help as well.

Best of luck in college!

Answer 2

uh...when ur in college, ull meet friends...if not soon then in time...ull be able to eat with them once ur their ur friends...and hopefully ull have a common interest so u can talk while you eat...but for now eat with someone in ur fam, or eat with a mirror..what ever works

Answer 3

by any chance, does your problem of eating with other people result from a fear of being sick in front of them?

I had that, I got over it on my own, if you can't see a shrink.