A British man lives with a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that makes him unable to hold food with his hand, using tongs instead.

John Junior uses metal tongs to eat sandwiches, chips, burgers, and salads.

John said, "People laugh and point at me when I have a meal out. Once, I had a tong next to the knife and fork on the table; the waiter glanced over and smiled. I told him I have a phobia, my friend, and he said, 'It's okay,' and gave me another smile."

Nearly half of those with obsessive-compulsive disorder are classified as experiencing severe symptoms, which can impact sufferers to the extent that they do not want to leave their homes.

Although doctors are puzzled about the causes of OCD, they believe that unusually low or high serotonin levels may be a reason.

John said, "I can't touch food; I feel like I will die. Using tongs, I eat all kinds of food, even soup."

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by a pattern of unwanted thoughts and fears that drive you to engage in repetitive behaviors (compulsive behaviors).

These obsessions and compulsive behaviors hinder daily activities and cause significant distress.

Symptoms include:

The need for things to be organized and tidy.
Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others.
Avoiding situations that may trigger obsessions, such as shaking hands.