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Resisting Anxiety In Restaurants

Have you ever felt anxiety in a restaurant? Or avoided going out because you were afraid of having anxiety in a restaurant? You need to do it anyway (Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks). This is the only way to get over it! Restaurants, then, become familiar and eventually can feel quite safe.

This transition can build your confidence and you will be free to try even more activities you used to think you were too anxious to do. Don't let anxiety, panic, fear and worry keep you left out of life. We are here to enjoy ourselves! Grab a friend and go!

How to Deal with Anxiety in a Restaurant

Anxiety wants to tell you that it is hard, but resisting anxiety in a restaurant is easier than you think! Watch below.

Find Jodi Lobozzo Aman on Facebook Heal Now and Forever Be In Peace and Twitter @JodiAman or her website at healnowandforever.net
Tell me if you ever tried this! What happened?

APA Reference
Lobozzo, J. (2012, March 9). Resisting Anxiety In Restaurants, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, October 4 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2012/03/resisting-anxiety-in-restaurants



Author: Jodi Lobozzo Aman, LCSW-R

Re
July, 23 2021 at 5:29 pm

I have a lot of anxiety in restaurants because of covid especially and I don’t really know what to do because I really have the need to wear a mask but it’s literally a restaurant and I can’t eat with a mask on, so I don’t know what to do.

Marie
March, 8 2018 at 7:32 pm

I know this might sound very strange, but I all of a sudden got the urge that I will throw or knock over someone’s glasss at a restaurant, and it was such an awful experience that I now avoid any invites from coworkers to lunch or any dinner invites from friends. I have suffered with similar anxiety for years, and right now even the mere though is causing my palms to sweat. This is something I’d never want to admit in fear people will think I’m crazy. The person I went to lunch with knew I was having a panic attack the day it happened because I told him and had to get up and leave the table the urge was so strong. I’ve failed taking meds like Lexapro over the years and I don’t even know why I stopped taking them the side efffects weren’t bad. Any advice is appreciated.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Sarah
July, 18 2018 at 4:16 pm

You are not crazy. I and a lot of other people have the same experience. Just this evening I went to a busy restaurant where all the tables were very close to each other. Every time the waiter came to the table I feared that something bad was going to happen. Nothing did. This is just an idea for you: could you perhaps try eating a sandwich on a park bench with someone you know well and go from there? Maybe you just need to press that reset button and start from the beginning again with small steps. Best wishes xx

Lance
December, 7 2017 at 9:20 am

I feel that I am going to vomit to the point where I cannot take one bite. I do not get nervous about the way I am eating our if people are looking at me or ordering my food it all has to do with feeling like if there is food in my stomach I will vomit it up from being nervous. Sometimes if I take a bite I will not be able to swallow it. I often drink a lot of alcohol during and before my meal and that usually stops it. Xanex does not work for this phobia.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Molly
January, 14 2018 at 9:26 am

I also experience this often. It is awful and I wish I knew how to get over the feelings of nausea.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Stef
April, 29 2018 at 10:27 am

This is exactly like me too... wish I knew how to get over it

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Taylor
May, 6 2018 at 5:37 pm

I experience this too and I’m glad I’m not the only one. I wish there was a way to stop it from happening

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Chris
September, 4 2021 at 5:39 am

I’m currently going through this right now. It’s horrible. Like I can’t even go to the bar anymore and have a drink because it will trigger

Tiara
October, 31 2021 at 5:40 am

I've dealt with this for years. I get the overwhelming feeling that im going to puke when eating out. I start to gag when I'm about to take the first bite. But if I can get past the first bite. I can usually eat abit before the nausea hits again. And i try to hide it from whoever I'm with because I dont like to tell people about it. I've missed out on alot of outings with friends because I try to avoid situations where I have to eat out. Its caused so much anxiety around making friends and getting into relationships as well.. comforting to know im not the only one experiencing this sort of thing

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

esme
July, 24 2022 at 1:56 pm

can relate i’m about to go to s restaurant with my family and just thinking about eating is making me feel a lot anxiety i know i probably don’t have an eating disorder because i eat just fine at home but i hope i can fix this some day :(

July, 26 2022 at 3:23 pm

Hi Esme. I hope the restaurant outing with your family wasn't too stressful for you and that you were able to have a good time. Perhaps a therapist can help you with the anxiety you feel around eating out. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

tayyab
May, 10 2015 at 9:57 pm

please solve my anxiety problem
when i go to different places like resturants if some one offer me meal i feel anxiety ( i cannot eat atleast one byte ) and thought if i eat this i do vomitting etc
thanks

family counseling
August, 6 2012 at 3:47 am

There are some people who are experiencing anxiety attacks in public places such as restaurants. This video that you have shared provides very helpful ways of dealing with this condition. Thanks for sharing.

Don't Miss the Fireworks! | Anxiety-Schmanxiety Blog
July, 5 2012 at 3:40 pm

[...] do things even though I did not want to.  The activities became familiar and I built confidence–like going to a restaurant–and the anxiety lessened. I got my life back.I’ve enjoyed the fireworks every year after [...]

Jean Maurie
March, 29 2012 at 9:37 pm

I used to avoid restaurants because I had panic attacks. I gradually was able to go after I went to buffets where I didn't have to sit and wait for my meal. Now that I am using EFT and tapping I have the tools to prevent or work through a panic situation. I wish I'd known about EFT 30 years ago when I was going through all the different therapies.

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

March, 30 2012 at 6:23 am

Thanks Jean Maurie, I will share about EFT soon in a post!

Jodi Lobozzo Aman: Heal Now and Forever
March, 9 2012 at 12:48 pm

[...] Newest post on Anxiety-Schmanxiety: Resisting Anxiety in A Restaurant: How to get back to doing what you love [...]

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