John revealed the reason behind his behavior and way of eating. Through his personal account, the 34-year-old man said that he was afraid of touching food directly with his hands.
To overcome his fear due to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), he always carries food tongs. Please note that OCD is a mental disorder characterized by the emergence of obsessive thoughts, followed by repeated actions to overcome these thoughts (compulsions).
Through the TikTok account @johnjuniorofficial, showing a man eating a burger with food tongs or food tongs that went viral and was watched by more than a million views. The man, named John Junior (34) from the UK, admits he fears touching food directly with his hands.
To deal with his fear, he always carries 3 sets of metal tongs, which he uses for all his meals.
"I can't physically touch food. In my head, I thought I was going to die. I've sorted it out pretty well now. I can eat all sorts," he revealed in an interview. "I even eat soup with it. I don't need any extra time."
This fear stems from his struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental health condition characterized by disturbing thoughts and repeated actions. Junior's phobia began after a food poisoning incident in 2013 caused by eating undercooked chicken.
"I know it's ridiculous, but it was my intrusive thoughts. Everyone has to eat to survive, and this was the only way I could cope," Junior explains.
Junior's phobia was even more extreme, preventing him from eating anything other than cake. "I don't feel well," he said in a different interview.
"I was shaking. I became accustomed to and routinely ate biscuits from the packet. I only ate food that went into my mouth easily."
Although she can now get proper food, her condition still affects her significantly. "It causes anxiety and I sometimes have panic attacks when I'm out of the house," he continues.
"It's not good, and it's like being constantly under control.
"The disorder really impacts my day-to-day life, it's debilitating most days," he adds.
"I wish I could eat and touch food like everyone else. It makes me feel alone and makes me anxious constantly when I try to eat. I wish it would get better. I have tried, I always say you have to be comfortable with discomfort to make changes."
