Aa
Eating in front of people
I got a letter from my school stating that since I show effort in class and have pretty good grades they are inviting me and my parents to breakfast and then will have an awards ceremony. I am soo scared to eat in front of people. I'm fine with my parents but none of my friends are going either. All people I don't know or don't like. I'm picky about food too and I know I'm not going to like it so how can I eat it without looking grossed out? And by awards ceremony do you think they mean walk up in front of everybody there what should I do? I'm just so nervous instead of being excited when I found out I started crying
Congrats on doing so good in school!!! I think you should try to go to the ceremony, you don't have to eat if you don't want. And you may have to get up to get an award but don't be afraid, its a big accomplishment for you :) I hope you get to go and enjoy yourself :)
This made me feel a million times better :) thank you so much, I'll be talking about the ceremony to the principle or I don't know who's in charge haha
When I was about 12, my older brother told me I chewed like a horse and for the next 20 YEARS I was just like you! I HATED eating in front of people I didn't know and it made dating a nightmare!
I don't know where your phobia came from and I DO believe it's a phobia of sorts to not like eating in front of strangers.
It's your fear that you may have to go onstage to collect your award that makes me think you MIGHT have some social anxiety going on, or you're possibly just a normally shy person. If the fear is that you'll have to actually talk in front of everybody, that is a fear just about ALL of us have. Public speaking is probably the #! phobia the world over, but I seriously doubt they are going to ask you to make an impromptu speech! A very quick "thank you" is probably the most you'll have to utter, and that just to the person handing you the award. Try to keep in mind that all those people there are mainly interested in seeing THEIR kid get an award and not to be mean, but when it's your turn, your parents may very well be the only ones actually watching you!
I have a feeling this ceremony is going to include quite a few other kids who have also shown above average effort, so the spotlight isn't going to be trained on just you. Probably there will be a speech about how great you all have done and then you'll line up to cross the stage, receive your award, shake somebodies hand and walk off. Much like receiving a diploma.
But since this this has you so upset that you cried when you got the letter, speak with a counselor at your school about the ceremony and how it's going to be conducted. Let them know of your fears and I'm sure they will go out of their way to make this as comfortable as possible for you. Knowing what to expect is half the battle.
As for the eating part..........you may be at a table with just your family, and if that's the case, it should be a bit easier for you to deal with. If you don't like the food that is served, don't eat it! Nobody is going to be taking notes on what or how much you ate or didn't. If there are other people at the table, you can just sort of push the food around and if anybody asks, just smile and say you're not very hungry. You COULD eat something at home before the ceremony and then just sip on some juice or water. It's nobodies business if you eat the dang food or not!
But...........since you wrote to an anxiety forum about this, it's obviously a bigger issue than a wee bit of shyness. I would strongly urge you to speak with your parents about how you feel and how difficult this ceremony is going to be for you. First, they will do whatever they can to help you get through the ceremony itself, but then they will help you deal with this problem possibly by getting you some therapy where you will learn not only why you have these feelings but you will be taught how to deal with and overcome them.
If you DO have to go onstage to receive your award, take a deep breath and remember that your parents are going to be watching you with love and pride.............so march across that stage to the beat of THAT drum!
I'm not saying this is going to be easy for you, but the more you worry about it, the scarier it's going to become in your mind. You CAN do this and once you do, take pride in the fact that you faced down the fear and know you can face down other fears as well.
Congratulations for your well earned award! I'm betting you'll be receiving many more before your school days are over.
You'll do fine, I promise!
Peace
Greenlydia
(Who probably STILL chews like a horse but no longer cares!) :)
I don't know where your phobia came from and I DO believe it's a phobia of sorts to not like eating in front of strangers.
It's your fear that you may have to go onstage to collect your award that makes me think you MIGHT have some social anxiety going on, or you're possibly just a normally shy person. If the fear is that you'll have to actually talk in front of everybody, that is a fear just about ALL of us have. Public speaking is probably the #! phobia the world over, but I seriously doubt they are going to ask you to make an impromptu speech! A very quick "thank you" is probably the most you'll have to utter, and that just to the person handing you the award. Try to keep in mind that all those people there are mainly interested in seeing THEIR kid get an award and not to be mean, but when it's your turn, your parents may very well be the only ones actually watching you!
I have a feeling this ceremony is going to include quite a few other kids who have also shown above average effort, so the spotlight isn't going to be trained on just you. Probably there will be a speech about how great you all have done and then you'll line up to cross the stage, receive your award, shake somebodies hand and walk off. Much like receiving a diploma.
But since this this has you so upset that you cried when you got the letter, speak with a counselor at your school about the ceremony and how it's going to be conducted. Let them know of your fears and I'm sure they will go out of their way to make this as comfortable as possible for you. Knowing what to expect is half the battle.
As for the eating part..........you may be at a table with just your family, and if that's the case, it should be a bit easier for you to deal with. If you don't like the food that is served, don't eat it! Nobody is going to be taking notes on what or how much you ate or didn't. If there are other people at the table, you can just sort of push the food around and if anybody asks, just smile and say you're not very hungry. You COULD eat something at home before the ceremony and then just sip on some juice or water. It's nobodies business if you eat the dang food or not!
But...........since you wrote to an anxiety forum about this, it's obviously a bigger issue than a wee bit of shyness. I would strongly urge you to speak with your parents about how you feel and how difficult this ceremony is going to be for you. First, they will do whatever they can to help you get through the ceremony itself, but then they will help you deal with this problem possibly by getting you some therapy where you will learn not only why you have these feelings but you will be taught how to deal with and overcome them.
If you DO have to go onstage to receive your award, take a deep breath and remember that your parents are going to be watching you with love and pride.............so march across that stage to the beat of THAT drum!
I'm not saying this is going to be easy for you, but the more you worry about it, the scarier it's going to become in your mind. You CAN do this and once you do, take pride in the fact that you faced down the fear and know you can face down other fears as well.
Congratulations for your well earned award! I'm betting you'll be receiving many more before your school days are over.
You'll do fine, I promise!
Peace
Greenlydia
(Who probably STILL chews like a horse but no longer cares!) :)
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