eating anxiety in social settings

[fallingthin]

I looked through the posts and didn't see a post that fit my problem exactly. I have been seeing my boyfriend for about a year now and I have been eating with his parents occasionally for about 5 or 6 months. More recently I have been invited back as a dinner guest several weekends in a row.
I can't seem to look up from the plate. I have problems making eye contact with his parents. I can't seem to conjure up anything to say and I feel really self conscious about getting food on the table or on my clothes. I also feel really stupid when I say something because I stutter, have a long pause when a question is asked, or otherwise miss-form my words. I feel really tense and can't seem to do anything but look at the plate and watch the food disappear. After dinner when everyone else is talking I leave the table(after clearing my plate and glass and sit in the living room. I never really learned how to eat in a family setting. My mom made dinner and we all scattered to our different corners or in front of the tv.
Has anyone improved on this issue in their personal lives? Does anyone know what causes social anxiety? Can any one help me?

[tinted]

I looked through the posts and didn't see a post that fit my problem exactly. I have been seeing my boyfriend for about a year now and I have been eating with his parents occasionally for about 5 or 6 months. More recently I have been invited back as a dinner guest several weekends in a row.
I can't seem to look up from the plate. I have problems making eye contact with his parents. I can't seem to conjure up anything to say and I feel really self conscious about getting food on the table or on my clothes. I also feel really stupid when I say something because I stutter, have a long pause when a question is asked, or otherwise miss-form my words. I feel really tense and can't seem to do anything but look at the plate and watch the food disappear. After dinner when everyone else is talking I leave the table(after clearing my plate and glass and sit in the living room. I never really learned how to eat in a family setting. My mom made dinner and we all scattered to our different corners or in front of the tv.
Has anyone improved on this issue in their personal lives? Does anyone know what causes social anxiety? Can any one help me?

i use to avoid eating in public but now i don't have a choice since i m in hospital.once you kind of force yourself to do it and try not to beat yourself up for messing up ,and do it for about 10 times it gets way easier.

i know how you feel.i have difficulty with making eye contact so i fake it,i do this kind of squint thing but ppl don't notice.it makes my eyes all blurry so that i can see the person in frot of me as a cloured blob.

when theres that awkward pause pretend if you can that you are finishing your mouthfull before answering,it buys you time and they think ur just being polite.

maybe help with clearing the table and comment or ask questions so that they have to answer and don't ask you questions.pretty simple comments like i ve noticed what beautiful flowers you have in the garden how do you make them grow so well.somthing that they are really interested in ,so they ll have lots to say while u just nod and try to listen or look like you are listening.