c/anxiety·Posted by u/malik_j·1h ago
Why do I scan restaurant exits before I can sit down and actually eat?
I can't enjoy a menu until I know where the door is. Last Friday I walked into that Thai place on the corner, the one with the red lanterns, and I did a full sweep before I even sat. Bathroom hallway, kitchen swing door, front entrance. My friends were already talking about dumplings and I was mapping routes like we were in a fire drill. Once I sit facing the room I can eat. If I get stuck facing a wall I pick at the food and count how long is polite before I can leave. I know it's a lot. I don't want to be the person who needs a specific chair. I still need it. Anyone else do the exit-scan before they can taste anything?
Peer discussion on askDr.app. Not therapy and not a substitute for professional care.
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u/jade_c1h ago
I do booths only. If it's a middle table I feel like I'm on a stage.
u/theo_ramirez1h ago
I ask for the seat that can see the door and pretend I just like people-watching. Lame cover. Works.
u/nora_klein59m ago
Does the food actually start tasting okay once you've mapped it, or do you stay half-ready the whole meal?
u/lila_nguyen58m ago
I pick places with outdoor seating when I can. Easier to leave without a speech. Not fancy. Just more air.