How obsessive-compulsive disorder made him scared of touching food with his hands

A man who is terrified of touching food with his hands has told how he eats all his meals – even soup – with metal tongs.

John Junior, from Manchester, first developed the phobia ten years ago after becoming ill from eating cooked chicken.

Using tongs alongside a fork, knife and spoon, the Covid pandemic sent the 34-year-old’s anxiety spiraling out of control.

His phobia – known as an intrusive thought, a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for which he was diagnosed in March – now consists of him eating exclusively with tongs and carrying three pairs in his car to avoid to ensure he is always prepared.

This tool allowed him to continue eating sandwiches, chips, burgers, full English breakfasts and salads.

John Junior, from Manchester, first developed the phobia ten years ago after becoming ill from eating cooked chicken. As he started using tongs alongside cutlery, the pandemic saw the 34-year-old’s anxiety spiral out of control

His phobia – a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which he was diagnosed with in March – now has him carrying three pairs of pliers around in his car to ensure he’s always prepared

But the mental health campaigner claims the hardest meal to eat is cottage pie.

He said, “I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s my intrusive thoughts. Everyone has to eat to survive and this is the only way I can cope.

‘People laugh and point at me when I’m eating. I get it, people are curious. But it is painful.

‘One time when I was at Miller and Carter’s, I had my tongs on the table next to the knife and fork.

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a common mental health condition that causes people to become obsessed with thoughts and develop behaviors that they find difficult to control.

It can affect anyone at any age, but normally develops during young adulthood.

It can cause people to have repetitive unwanted or unpleasant thoughts.

People may also develop compulsive behaviors – a physical action or something mental – that they do over and over again to try to relieve the obsessive thoughts.

The condition can be controlled and treatment usually involves psychological therapy or medication.

It is not known why OCD occurs, but risk factors include a family history of the condition, certain differences in brain chemicals, or major life events such as childbirth or death.

People who are naturally neat, methodical or anxious are also more likely to develop this.

Source: NHS

‘The waiter took a look and smiled at me. I just said, “I have a phobia, buddy,” and he just said, “that’s okay” and smiled at me again.”

He added: ‘I forgot about the giggling from other tables for a moment. It was nice that someone had just accepted it.’

It is believed that around 750,000 Britons suffer from OCD, which can cause sufferers to become obsessed with washing their hands, tidying up and checking that doors are locked.

Charities estimate that up to 3 million Americans have been affected, including Hollywood stars Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba.

About half of patients have ‘severe’ symptoms, which can have such serious consequences that they no longer want to leave their home.

Treatment can typically include cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps patients confront their obsessive thoughts without “correcting” them.

Drugs are also distributed, using antidepressants to change the chemical balance in the brain.

Although doctors are baffled as to the cause of OCD, they believe that an unusually low or high level of serotonin may be the cause.

Mr Junior said: ‘I just can’t physically touch the food. In my head I think I’m going to die.

‘I’ve got the hang of it now. I can eat all kinds of food. I even eat soup with it. It doesn’t cost me any extra time.’

In an effort to raise awareness of the daily impact of his intrusive thoughts, he launched a TikTok channel earlier this month.

In a video that has been viewed more than 685,000 times, he claimed that cottage pie is one of the most difficult meals to tackle with tongs.

He told his followers: ‘This is a cottage pie made for me.

This tool allowed him to continue eating sandwiches, chips, burgers, full English breakfasts and salads. But the mental health campaigner claims the hardest meal to eat is cottage pie. He said, “I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s my intrusive thoughts. Everyone has to eat to survive and this is the only way I can cope

In a video that has been viewed more than 685,000 times, he claimed that cottage pie is one of the most difficult meals to tackle with tongs. He told his followers: ‘This is a cottage pie made for me. ‘I use my metal pliers. I have the largest. The reason why I eat like this with my metal tongs is because I have intrusive thoughts telling me that I have to eat with the metal tongs or I will die.”

While some of his 4,700 followers have praised Mr Junior for his openness, others have not been so supportive. One TikTok said: ‘OCD is rough and scary, stay strong and you will overcome the intrusive thoughts. You are not alone.’ Meanwhile, another commented: ‘To be honest with a burger isn’t a bad shout, I hate having it on my hands.’ However, a third added: ‘nah what’s going on these days’, while a fourth said ‘speechless’

‘I use my metal pliers. I have the largest. The reason why I eat like this with my metal tongs is because I have intrusive thoughts telling me that I have to eat with the metal tongs or I will die.”

He added: ‘This is a form of OCD. I wish I never had these thoughts because it just ruins your tea and I don’t enjoy it.

‘I didn’t enjoy that meal at all. But I have to do what it says, otherwise I will die.

“Remember that if you have intrusive thoughts and OCD, you are not alone.”

While some of his 4,700 followers have praised Mr Junior for his openness, others have not been so supportive.

One TikTok said: ‘OCD is rough and scary, stay strong and you will overcome the intrusive thoughts. You are not alone.’

Meanwhile, another commented: ‘To be honest with a burger isn’t a bad shout, I hate having it on my hands.’

However, a third added: ‘nah what’s going on these days’, while a fourth said ‘speechless’.