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While some people enjoy digging into a juicy hamburger, the mere thought of eating with his hands fills John Junior with fear.
John from Manchester in the UK sufferers from intrusive thoughts, a debilitating form of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and has been living with the affliction for 10 years.
His condition is so bad that he can't even eat with cutlery.
“I have an intrusive thought that tells me to eat with metal tongs otherwise I will die,” he explains.
@johnjuniorofficial I have lived with Intrusive Thoughts for 10 years and the way I eat is without mu hands. I have an intrusive thought that tells me to eat with metal tongs otherwise I will die. Its normal to me now eating this way and when I go out people look and stare. Make me feel very anxious its a normal way I eat now. I dont eat like other people and if this is you, you are not alone. Eating an egg butty in this video which tasted so good ?? Sharing my experiences and raising awareness with OCD is imporant to breaking down judgement and stigma. Intrusive thoughts are a sympton of OCD. I do apologise in advance if the spelling is wrong, I have dyslexia and struggle. Any questions about this please message below and I will reply #ocd #ocdproblems #theguywiththeduck #theduckman?? #intrusivethoughts #johnandcharliesjourney #mentalhealth #theduckmanofficial #ocdawareness #obsessivecompulsivedisorder #eating #food #eatingwithtongs #metaltongs #fyp? #tiktok #trending #panicdisorder #eatingout #charlietheteddyduck ? original sound - THE DUCKMAN
John developed a fear of touching his food after he fell ill from eating cooked chicken a decade ago, so he opted to use cutlery. His condition worsened after the unexpected death of his father in 2018, and he’s been using metal tongs ever since.
“It’s normal to me now eating this way. Whenever I go out people look and stare, it makes me feel very anxious because I don’t eat like other people."
The 34-year-old says it’s a horrible, unwanted and distressing way to go through life.
“You don’t want to do what it says but you have to otherwise something bad will happen to you. And it causes a whole range of anxieties and panic attacks.”
@johnjuniorofficial Eating cold rhubarb and crumble with cold custard last night. Intrusive thoughts telling me to eat my pudding in bed, using my metal tongs and to only show my mouth and half my nose otherwise I will die. This causes immense physical anxiety symptoms, which are not nice at all!. Flooding my mind with unwanted thoughts and I couldnt sleep much last night due to these. I have had OCD for 10 years and it first started with with touching objects then it got gradually worse and became having intrusive thoughts. My cook is cooked for me. I cant be around hot food as I am at risk to harming myself. Everyday is a constant battle and dealing with other metal and physical health is so draining, we out here trying to be positive about it and I hope this helps someone. Link in bio if you need some support with your mental health #ocd #ocdproblems #ocdawareness #intrusivethoughts #eatingwithintrusivethoughts #theduckman?? #fyp? #foryoupage #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #rumination #anxiety #panicattacks #bpdtiktok #trending #wednesday #autism #foodie #custard #pudding #desert #eatingwithmetaltongs #unwantedthoughts #awareness ? original sound - THE DUCKMAN
John uses different sizes of metal tongs for different types of food and always keeps some in his car for when he eats out.
He eats everything with a pair of tongs, including sweets, soup and his favourite comfort food, cottage pie. He admits its tough to eat this way, but his condition leaves him with no other choice.
“When it was in front of me the intrusive thoughts was telling me to get the big metal tongs to eat it otherwise I will die. I love cottage pie yet eating it was not enjoyable at all.
"I was getting unwanted thoughts telling me hurry up and eat it all before I count to 150 or I'll die,” he says.
@johnjuniorofficial Eating cottage pie with my metal tongs last night for my tea. I was looking forward to eating this. Cottage pie is comfort food!. And when it was in front of me the intrusive thoughts was telling me to get the big metal tongs to eat it otherwise i will die. I love cottage pie yet eating it was not enjoyable at all. I was getting unwanted thoughts telling me hurry up and eat it before you get to 150 in your head or you will die. It was horrible that, I was hungry so I demolished it. I have lived with OCD and Intrusive thoughts for 10 years its a constant battle every day. The intrusive thoughts are a symptom of OCD. #ocdthoughts #ocdproblems #ocdsucks #intrusivethoughts #ocdlife #ocdmetaltongs #intrusivethoughtsrecovery #bpd #bpdtok #anxiety #nightmares #food #foodtiktok #eatingwithmetaltongs #eatingwithtongs #ptsd #fyp #viral #tiktok #theduckman?? #eatingfood #mentalhealthactivist #mentalhealthawareness #comfortfood #eatingvideo ? original sound - THE DUCKMAN
John has been battling mental health issues from an early age. He was 11 when he was diagnosed with a chromosome disorder and started harming himself in secondary school after he was mercilessly bullied for being overweight.
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"It’s horrible," he says. "It has made me feel suicidal in the past. The disorder impacts my daily life hugely, it’s debilitating, most days.
"I wish I could eat food and touch food like other people. It makes me feel alone and causes me anxiety constantly when I’m trying to eat."
But he's hopeful that things will get better one day.
“I've been trying and I always say you have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable for change,” he says.
SOURCES: TIKTOK.COM, MANCHESTEREVENINGNEWS.CO.UK, EXPRESS.CO.UK
