I eat paper and plastic

Hi there. All of my life I have eaten things like pens and pencils, fabric and occasionally indulged in things like washing up starch. I am lacking Iron from my diet, not from a poor background and I just cant seem to change my habits.

This condition is diagnosed as an eating disorder, known as Pica - which means a craving in Latin. Anyone, got any advice or know anyone who has been in a similar situation?

Reply 1

mermania

16

my advice is to stop eating paper and plastic.
unless of course it's that edible paper, which is amazing despite having practically no taste. cheers.

Reply 2

BouncyB

1

I had a craving 4 ice when i was younger, and ive grown out of it. But maybe it would help to see a hypnotist.

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

I have tried, but I just continually get urges to do it, and I can't stop. Its not edible paper, I eat my clothes, bed sheets, pens, crisp and chocolate wrappers - not things that are pretty nutritious

Reply 4

twiga

15

Take supplements to raise your iron levels, other than that hypnotherapy could be an option?

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

I've never considered hypnotherapy, it may work, but as I said my iron levels have already been checked by my doctor who thinks it was related to anaemia, which it isnt, and I took iron for a while but it didnt solve the matter.

Hypnotherpy could be a good option though, so thanks for that

Reply 6

hugatree

11

Hehe I'm sorry but this is just very funny. :redface:

Maybe you could that trick people do on tv: put a rubber band on your arm, and whenever you feel the urge to eat random stuff, snap it against your wrist. Personally I don't have faith in this but who knows it might work.

Reply 7

shinytoy

18

NONONOOOO!!!

one of my relatives has something similar. Pica is an eating disorder. its mental - like anaorexia/bulimia so no supplements will cure it in a normal person. psychotherapy might. look at this article about it

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1798.htm

Reply 8

Aberdonian*Lass

1

nothing useful im afraid...just curiosity - how dyou eat your clothes and your bedsheets?! do you cut them up and swallow or dyou chew them up with your teeth...cos im pretty sure that would take ages rite?

Reply 9

hugatree

11

Kill_More_Foxes

nothing useful im afraid...just curiosity - how dyou eat your clothes and your bedsheets?! do you cut them up and swallow or dyou chew them up with your teeth...cos im pretty sure that would take ages rite?

That's what I found so funny. :redface:

I'm curious too!

Reply 10

-Kav-

12

For someone with Pica you've been fairly lucky. More harmful things like large amounts of clay and even coal are more common than paper etc. That being said, if you're suffering because of it then professional help is probably in order.

Reply 11

UtterNutter69

I often indulge in a nice plate of empty crisp wrappers and chips, with a side order of pencil cases.

Reply 12

xXMessedUpXx

15

I now it may seem funny but as has been stated Pica is an eating disorder. I doubt you be insensitive to someone suffering from bulnimia or anorexia, so bear that in mind.

to the OP, have you been diognosed by a DR, or was it self diagnosis? If it was a Dr why did they not suggest treatment?

Reply 13

iceman_jondoe

18

in one way im amazed that ive neveer heard of this type of condition before, in another way i feel sorry for you and the only helpful advice i can give is to slowly work your way off paper by having reduced amounts each week, like a diet. Ive just typed pica into wiki and its come up with some useful info but no treatments :frown:

.

Reply 14

hugatree

11

I used to eat paper in little amounts (and I wasn't even too young to think better of it) but that certainly wasn't pica that's just me being weird. :biggrin:

I think you definitely see a doctor about this too.

Reply 15

UtterNutter69

xXMessedUpXx

I doubt you be insensitive to someone suffering from bulnimia or anorexia

I wouldnt bet on that.

Reply 16

Lambda Delta Pi

Anonymous

Hi there. All of my life I have eaten things like pens and pencils, fabric and occasionally indulged in things like washing up starch. I am lacking Iron from my diet, not from a poor background and I just cant seem to change my habits.

This condition is diagnosed as an eating disorder, known as Pica - which means a craving in Latin. Anyone, got any advice or know anyone who has been in a similar situation?

erm... ever tried chocolate? kinda tastes better

Reply 17

Anonymous #2

I eat paper too! I really need to stop but whenever I try I always start again. It really weird as certain types of parper taste nicer than others and when I smell or see certain kinds I do actually think yum, yum :-s

Reply 18

Portishead

9

when i was young, i used to chew on anything i can get my hands on, my mum started putting chilli on things that i was chewing on, and eventually i stopped. could be a good idea?

Reply 19

73337

18

This thread is a year and a half old.

I eat paper and plastic

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