Ordering Food

Panic57 · Oct 17, 2016

I oddly enough don't have an issue ordering food because my family always made me do it. My mom hates ordering food off the phone so she would make me do it under the guise that she's busy working. My sister, who is the extrovert in the family, won't do it at all. Point blank refuses to order food, when I was eight, she just gave me money and told me to order pizza. So I'm fine ordering food because I've been made to do it. I think it helps when you know upfront what you want. Just remember that there people's opinion about what you eat isn't important unless they're paying for your meal. As for sounding stupid, as long as you're not one of those people who orders one thing and then goes up to the checkout to tell them you ordered something else, you're good.

mauricioq · Oct 18, 2016

Yes, I also struggle with this. What I do nowadays and I think it helps me out a lot is plan what I'm going to say way ahead of time. Like, I have everything ready to say and I've already figured out exactly what I'm going to ask. With this there's no surprises.

vegito12 · Oct 18, 2016

I think it is a normal feeling and there are days where I think will the order taker make the food the way I want it or not do it properly like it is meant to be done and can fell anxious and hope the price is the same as it is stated and when the line is big at the restaurant or takeaway place it can make me feel like when will I get served and how long will the food take to cook. One of my friends is a bit shy and when he was younger he would just order what the person in front would want and also be surprised what the person would order if the meal is big, and it did take him time to try and get confident to talk to people and also order the food properly which did take confidence as well in the process. I usually look at the menu and make sure it is the same and have had a mix up one time at a cafe the person said they don't have the vanilla coffee then gave me another and then said they did which was strange and it could of been due to the place being busy and not a lot of workers over there.

Alex · Oct 18, 2016

To be honest, I think many people do feel nervous especially if they pronounce something wrong. I always rehearse in my head what I want to say, and as I am vegetarian I usually ask what there is available if case there are specials.

Having worked as a hostess, I have been on the other side and can see when people are nervous about ordering, or aren't sure. Sometimes I just stick to what I know, but even when I order at Burger King I still wonder if I say my order correctly, and I must do as I get the right things each time.

Choochoo · Oct 18, 2016

I feel this way sometimes when I order food. I think it stems from being shouted at a lot when I was younger whenever I would make a mistake, so talking to strangers on the phone or at a drive through I'd always feel compelled to be as precise as possible. It also causes me anxiety and stress whenever I am on the phone ordering food or just making inquiries at a company and there are people talking around me or talking to me, and when that happens I feel so impolite and want to shout at the people for not being considerate enough to see that I am speaking with someone on the phone. I try to control my temper and just tell them calmly though because I don't want to turn into what my environment was when I was growing up.

fuzyon · Oct 18, 2016

I have a problem with the drive through, I'm always afraid of mixing things up while ordering there and I don't want to make people behind me wait. I know it's a pretty stupid thing to do but I can't help it.

Ordering at restaurants isn't the worst for me, of course I get pretty anxious when talking to strangers but I don't have a problem with getting the order out.

amy88 · Oct 20, 2016

I haaaate doing this. I usually send my husband, which I know doesn't really help in terms of confronting my anxiety - but it can really get me anxious. A lot of the time if I'm by myself I'll sooner go to a supermarket, buy food through the self serve checkouts, and come home and cook it rather than going somewhere and ordering from a drive thru speaker or a person.

x0xLikeMex0x · Oct 20, 2016

I usually have an issue with ordering food, but I do have an issue with buying items that have no price sign next to them or on them. I hate it when I have to buy something that has no price on it. I often end up not buying the items with confusing prices or no prices next to them. I need to know the price before buying it.

LionTurtle · Oct 20, 2016

I get really anxious when I have to order over the phone, and when I have to go into places to pick up food. I'm okay with the drive through though.

hades_leae · Oct 20, 2016

I remember when I flt that way, but I quickly got over it because I was hungry. Where I'm at right now, it's almost 3 in the morning, and I'm going to go to Walmart for a $1.75 cent pack of cookies and that's all I'm getting. I feel embarrassed when I go to the register at such a big store and only spend that much because it makes me think others who are looking think that I can't afford to buy groceries like they did, but now I don't give a damn. I used to think like that.

djanx · Oct 20, 2016

HappyKoi said:
Sometimes I feel really shy when I have to order food at a restaurant or a drive-through. I worry that they won't be able to understand what I'm saying, or that I will say something wrong and sound stupid, or people will judge me for what I choose to eat. Most of these fears have little to no basis in reality, but I feel anxious all the same. I've often gone hungry because I've been too anxious to order something. Sometimes this even happens when I'm out with friends, and everyone is uncomfortable. Does anyone else feel this way sometimes?

Well, that does happen with some people. My ex used to have that issue. This is why I would ask her to place orders at restaurants until she got over her anxiety. It's just one of those things you have to work at to get over. Do things that are just beyond your comfort zone and keep expanding your comfort zone until you get to the point where you can order food without worrying about others or yourself. Besides, other people don't care what you order, they hardly notice or remember what they order

DDNatureLover · Oct 20, 2016

I don't have an issue with this nowadays. I don't go out to eat or order takeout/delivery much now, but in the past, I did go out to eat at restaurants quite a bit. The more anxious I was in the situation, the more difficulty I would have selecting what I wanted to eat. Sometimes I would just default to what I usually got, rather than trying something new, or would order the same thing as someone else, so that I wouldn't stand out.

sidney · Oct 20, 2016

That's one of the most irrational causes of anxiety that I have heard of so far. So what if you order a certain type of food? People have different tastes, they shouldn't be judged for eating what they chose to eat. As for me I love ordering food outside, hehe. I consider it as a "departure" from the usual home cooked food that I eat.

kgord · Oct 20, 2016

No, I don't have a problem ordering food. However, maybe I should, because I have a weight problem and people may be thinking why is she ordering that dessert or something, however, no. it does not make me anxious in the least, however, dining alone does sometimes make me a little anxious. I don't like to sit alone in restaurants, and worry people are staring at me, but I don't care enough to stop doing it.

Allenafaith · Oct 20, 2016

I'm only shy if there is someone else in the car with me while I'm ordering. My mom would always get mad at me because I'd make her order from the other side of the car because I wouldn't do it if she was in there or if someone else was in there.

Padre · Oct 21, 2016

When I was an adolescent and young adult, this one really bugged me for some reason. I am not entirely sure why it did, but I was mortified to do so. At some point it just sort of faded away. I still feel mild apprehension at time, but it is not nearly as bad.

DDNatureLover · Oct 21, 2016

djanx said:
Well, that does happen with some people. My ex used to have that issue. This is why I would ask her to place orders at restaurants until she got over her anxiety. It's just one of those things you have to work at to get over. Do things that are just beyond your comfort zone and keep expanding your comfort zone until you get to the point where you can order food without worrying about others or yourself. Besides, other people don't care what you order, they hardly notice or remember what they order

I definitely agree with the idea of pushing through and conquering this fear. This is a form of performance anxiety. You're sort of put on the spot when you're ordering. You're often talking to a stranger, with many others around you, and although in reality most others are busy doing their own thing, it can feel as if all eyes are on you. This can be an especially difficult task for those who have any type of speech impediment or a heavy accent. I can remember having the same type of feeling when I was younger and in school, and would be called upon to answer a question, particularly when I wasn't prepared.

I have more difficulty with this these days when I'm at a drive through, because there seem to be so many issues with speakers at those types of places. When I'm out and about, I've usually got a lot going through my brain, trying to remember what i have to do, where I have to go, and having to repeat myself more than once, or pull forward and order again can be disconcerting.

Laneorexorcist · Oct 22, 2016

I think that the only thing that gets on me when it comes to ordering food is not knowking what am I going to order, sometimes there is a lot of food there and yes, I am scared of looking like I don't know anything about food of that certain type. And I think that's the main reason why I almost always ask for the same food when I go to other restaurants, and another reason to like buffets.

Ordering Food

HappyKoi

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Panic57

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mauricioq

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vegito12

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Alex

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Choochoo

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fuzyon

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amy88

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x0xLikeMex0x

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LionTurtle

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hades_leae

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djanx

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DDNatureLover

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sidney

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kgord

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Allenafaith

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Padre

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DDNatureLover

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Laneorexorcist

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