I have exactly the same problem as you, eating in groups makes me nauseous. Also drinking alcohol.
The only way I can sometimes control it is to stop eating and sit back, out of the conversation and stare at my knees until I'm at ease and then take another bite once my anxiety has passed a little. Other than that, just keep trying, never run away if you can. Brave it out until you can go no more and congratulate yourself when you do.

 

When my SA was at its peak about 6 years ago I would get so anxious at a dinner with lots of people (for example a company Christmas dinner) that I would literally feel so sick and not be able to eat or drink... I would be two seconds away from throwing up the entire time. I would almost ALWAYS end up leaving early. Mind you, I was with my depressive boyfriend, who brought out the worst in me.

Not sure how I got better from that, but since I've met my outgoing husband and I went to our company's Christmas dinner I was FINE. I was ok enough to drink too, which really helped the situation! I mean, I was still nervous but not to the extent that I was ready to throw up. Was the last to leave, for the first time in my life.

So basically I think it was the company that I kept... that makes me or breaks me. I went on Effexor XR shortly thereafter for 6 months and that really helped too.

 

hey guys....thanxs for replying....It super reassuring to know that I'm not the only one experiencing stuff like this.......

I'm gonna practise with similar situations like eating dinner and hopefully get better at this type of thing. Please let me know if you come across any more strategies to cope with this and where to find these resources.

Thanxs a lot

 

Expose yourself to more of these to get used to it.

Work on your storytelling and voice. When I rolled to the clubs I did not have anything worked on and when i first started out i stuttered and had nothing to say. With practice you can get really good and have people attracted to you.

 

yeah i know that having a proper company along with you might make the anxiety go away. for me, when i have a friend with me when eating together with other friends at college, it makes me feel much more at ease. my anxiety would actually come back and worsen if that company of mine leaves me even for just a minute or so, leaving me startled with those other friends.

i'm trying to work on it too, without having a company around... yes you're not alone! i have to practise as well.

 

When i eat lunch at work I sit with 3 people. I pretty much just stare at my food or at nothing and once and a while say something brief. I know they have to be thinking i have some kind of mental problem. I can't take SA anymore. I'm about to quit my job because of it. I NEED KLONOPIN!!!