Fear of being poisoned?

[Grace360]

Yea.. its intense enough for me to ask for the family members in my house to try my food before I do. They only recently forced themselves to stop, "for my own good". I'm only okay with it if everyone's eating it. I've read up so many times on so many types of poisoning. All the possible symptoms. How fast and how slow some are. Before my phone was reset, I had the poison control on speed dial. And an app that showed you what to do in nearly every possible, terrible medical emergency. I was so prepared for any and everything.
Still am. But I worry for muself of course. Maybe that someone snuck in, put something in the food. Anything irrational I can think of.
My therapist said themselves. It CAN happen. But its so, so unlikely.
Still. It takes a bit.

 

[RobbyH]

I am 59 years old and my wife and I have eaten all over the world and other than some food poisoning (different than what you are thinking about), I haven’t been poisoned yet nor have I ever known anyone who has been.

I really think this is one of those fears you can forget.

 

[Grace360]

I am 59 years old and my wife and I have eaten all over the world and other than some food poisoning (different than what you are thinking about), I haven’t been poisoned yet nor have I ever known anyone who has been.

I really think this is one of those fears you can forget.

I think so too. I'm really trying to debunk each of my irrational fears, one at a time. And I can start with this one. It really gets in the way of things. I wasn't even always like this.

 

[hatboxghost]

Hi there!

I used to be/am the same way and I still have random bouts of these irrational fears. Sometimes I would get a drink at a fast food drive-thru and not drink it because I was too afraid someone did something to it. I also don’t like having food delivered.
To be honest, I don’t eat food that strangers bring. And I have to really talk myself up at work pot lucks.
I also don’t buy anything that isn’t factory sealed. Like Blue Bell ice cream, I won’t eat it because there’s no seal on it!
So, just know you’re not alone. It is an irrational fear because if you trust the people around you, know they will do anything/everything to keep you safe.

I think this falls under health anxiety, as well. Definitely talk to someone about it. We shouldn’t live our lives afraid of eating! It’s so important and necessary.

 

[Grace360]

Hi there!

I used to be/am the same way and I still have random bouts of these irrational fears. Sometimes I would get a drink at a fast food drive-thru and not drink it because I was too afraid someone did something to it. I also don’t like having food delivered.
To be honest, I don’t eat food that strangers bring. And I have to really talk myself up at work pot lucks.
I also don’t buy anything that isn’t factory sealed. Like Blue Bell ice cream, I won’t eat it because there’s no seal on it!
So, just know you’re not alone. It is an irrational fear because if you trust the people around you, know they will do anything/everything to keep you safe.

I think this falls under health anxiety, as well. Definitely talk to someone about it. We shouldn’t live our lives afraid of eating! It’s so important and necessary.

I definitely get that. I only eat something if everyone's eating the same thing, if I get it at a restaurant or fast food, or someone else has eaten the same thing. But I know I need to slowly get out of it. I am trying to. Not everything is a spy movie where something gets laced.

 

[hatboxghost]

Right! I live my life as if it’s a prime time movie.
I’m afraid of just falling over dead. At any moment in some dramatic fashion. For no reason at all.
Hypochondria at its finest. It’s so obnoxious and that little voice that tries to direct my life as if it WERE a movie needs to be fired.

But honestly, see if you can chat with a professional. I’m seeing a therapist for the first time this coming Tuesday. I’m really hopeful for some progress.

 

[Grace360]

Right! I live my life as if it’s a prime time movie.
I’m afraid of just falling over dead. At any moment in some dramatic fashion. For no reason at all.
Hypochondria at its finest. It’s so obnoxious and that little voice that tries to direct my life as if it WERE a movie needs to be fired.

But honestly, see if you can chat with a professional. I’m seeing a therapist for the first time this coming Tuesday. I’m really hopeful for some progress.

Funny that that's my exact fear, right there. Relatively new compared to everything else. But still very much real and very much near debilitating for everyday life.
I do have a therapist I'm seeing soon. Actually next week that I'm excited about. I have lots of doctors.

 

[Sarah413]

Hello. I have this same fear as along with the possibility that there may be a national recall on the food due to E. coli, salmonela or other dangerous contaminations after I already ate it or that someone may have accidentally cross-contaminated or given me bad food. I have to convince people to try my food and drinks or if I’m with someone new I always get them to get something we both like and split meals with me. When people refuse to try it also for my own good I usually save a portion of what I ate/ drank so that if something happens to me scientists can test the food later and I sit in turmoil for days and sometimes weeks. How do you cope with this when people refuse to try the foods? Any suggestions on how to move past this?

 

[Grace360]

Hello. I have this same fear as along with the possibility that there may be a national recall on the food due to E. coli, salmonela or other dangerous contaminations after I already ate it or that someone may have accidentally cross-contaminated or given me bad food. I have to convince people to try my food and drinks or if I’m with someone new I always get them to get something we both like and split meals with me. When people refuse to try it also for my own good I usually save a portion of what I ate/ drank so that if something happens to me scientists can test the food later and I sit in turmoil for days and sometimes weeks. How do you cope with this when people refuse to try the foods? Any suggestions on how to move past this?

I'm trying to get past this myself! I got my mom and family members to try my food constantly when I was at home. Even out food. As well as only switching to school lunch because everyone else was eating it the same as me. I've barely moved past it myself. But I suggest being around people who try it as well. Either that or, make sure people are around you. Though nothing should happen.

 

[Sarah413]

For sure. I hope we have a day where we eat without even considering the posibilites. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[Grace360]

For sure. I hope we have a day where we eat without even considering the posibilites. Thank you for the suggestion!

Of course. Perhaps we can grow together. This is still my hurdle everyday.