c/trauma·Posted by u/maya_patel·22h ago

How do you eat at someone else's table without scanning who is in a mood?

Dinner at my partner's parents on Friday. Nice food. Nice enough people. I still mapped the table like a weather report. Who is quiet. Who is drinking faster. Where the exits are, which is just a hallway to a bathroom. I laughed at the right stories. I watched my partner's dad's face when the conversation got near work. I ate less than I was hungry for because chewing felt loud. In the car after, my partner said that was actually a good night. It probably was. I was on duty the whole time. I want to be a guest. I keep being security. How do you sit in a chair and just eat?

Peer discussion on askDr.app. Not therapy and not a substitute for professional care.