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Navigating that hotel breakfast buffet

nidriks

I like to travel. I have a general social anxiety for the world, but I got to 48 and realised I had to see some of the world.

I like breakfast buffets in hotels, or I like the idea of filling up before a day's exploring. I like a nice variety of new foods that I can try, even if most days I'm pretty stale in my variety - same breakfast, same sandwich for lunch etc - it's nice to expand ones horizons and push one out of one's comfort zone. No matter how hard it is.

So, here am I am, right now, in a hotel in Germany, having a breakfast buffet. Talk about sensory nightmare.

The people...they're everywhere. I chose bigger hotels because at least I can not feel singled out, but then all the people are there.

There's no trays. Hey, I have probably dyspraxia too, you know, how am I supposed to balance a plate, a cup of tea and my fork? Yeah, I only have a fork usually. We'll get to that.

How much do I take? How many times can I go back? Will they think I'm greedy? Do I eat like other people?

I don't like using a knife. I use just a fork. Yes, I scoop food on to it with my finger. That's fine at home, but will people think I'm a disgusting oaf? Look at the size of that cutlery. Am I a giant? That knife - okay, I sometimes use it for butter - is bigger than my arm. Why?

Now I have the sniffles because I've eaten. I just get them when I eat anything? I've read it's a reaction to food being ingested. Anyone else get that? Okay, something I just ate irritated my bowels, or is that just the stress of wondering if I'm doing everything right?

But, I've done a fair few breakfasts in hotels now. I should be an expert, but it's still hard every time.

How do others cope?

Parents

  • Thanks,  ,   and  .

    I never used to be this bad. I remember doing a 6 week stay in Poland as part of my degree in 1996. I just walked into the hotel bar and ordered drinks back then. No pressure. I was 21.

    Everything I said I know sounds obvious. I don't know why I struggle so much. People close to me say I overthink. I know I do. I just don't understand what changed as I got older. Burnout, I guess. My stress and anxiety levels have zoomed massively in the past 10 years.

    I'm sitting here eating breakfast in the hotel as I type this. I'm trying so hard to just be myself, ignore the people and just be content, but there I am worrying using my phone is rude now! Rofl

    The coordination problems have always been there. I read my school reports, found at my parent's, the other day. They were very revealing about my coordination in PE. I had coordination therapy as a child too. I've just sat here and used a fork and a knife, rather than my fingers. It's like trying to balance plates and juggle balls at the same time for me. Why do they make cutlery so darn big?

    The allergy issues have definitely got worse for me. I had bad hay fever as a child and was kept in as summer came around. I take allergy meds daily now and find if I skip a day I'll feel awful. My physio has spoken to me of collagen issues in autism, and I've done some research on it. I forget the name of the condition, something to do with autistic people bending more than neurotypicals, but it's a passion project of his. He is autistic too.

    I have the usual collection of conditions. IBS, reflux and under active thyroid. Nail dystrophy and dry skin.

    My autism assessments will be next month. Lots to discuss.

    Meanwhile, I'm going to try and have an enjoyable breakfast.

Reply

  • Thanks,  ,   and  .

    I never used to be this bad. I remember doing a 6 week stay in Poland as part of my degree in 1996. I just walked into the hotel bar and ordered drinks back then. No pressure. I was 21.

    Everything I said I know sounds obvious. I don't know why I struggle so much. People close to me say I overthink. I know I do. I just don't understand what changed as I got older. Burnout, I guess. My stress and anxiety levels have zoomed massively in the past 10 years.

    I'm sitting here eating breakfast in the hotel as I type this. I'm trying so hard to just be myself, ignore the people and just be content, but there I am worrying using my phone is rude now! Rofl

    The coordination problems have always been there. I read my school reports, found at my parent's, the other day. They were very revealing about my coordination in PE. I had coordination therapy as a child too. I've just sat here and used a fork and a knife, rather than my fingers. It's like trying to balance plates and juggle balls at the same time for me. Why do they make cutlery so darn big?

    The allergy issues have definitely got worse for me. I had bad hay fever as a child and was kept in as summer came around. I take allergy meds daily now and find if I skip a day I'll feel awful. My physio has spoken to me of collagen issues in autism, and I've done some research on it. I forget the name of the condition, something to do with autistic people bending more than neurotypicals, but it's a passion project of his. He is autistic too.

    I have the usual collection of conditions. IBS, reflux and under active thyroid. Nail dystrophy and dry skin.

    My autism assessments will be next month. Lots to discuss.

    Meanwhile, I'm going to try and have an enjoyable breakfast.

Children
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