An 18-year-old whose unusual condition makes them want to eat objects like glass and even their own teeth has opened up about the physical impacts it has had on their body.
The teen initially shared insight to their experience in an 'Ask Me Anything' thread on Reddit, and has since spoken with UNILAD to share more details of the mental health condition, called pica, which they've had for their 'entire life'.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition is one in which a person 'compulsively swallows non-food items'. It's common in children, but one study cited by the National Eating Disorders Association found that only 1.1 percent of adults experience recurrent pica behaviors.
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For the Reddit user, who has not shared their name, they first began to realize their behavior was unusual when they were in elementary school.
They'd show how they could eat paper 'as a sort of party trick for attention', and over time the teen has consumed everything from flowers and dried paint, to 'straight glass' and even 'their own baby teeth' after they'd fallen out.
Alongside their favorite actual foods, which include hamburger helper and tomato, sausage and rice, they told UNILAD they consume inedible objects 'every week', adding: "Probably 4-5 times a week for eraser shavings and paper. My school binders over the years are filled with pieces of paper with parts ripped off when I had cravings."
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It goes without saying that eating objects that aren't meant to be eaten can be dangerous, with the Cleveland Clinic noting that swallowing certain items can make pica 'very hazardous'.
Discussing the physical health impacts they believe to be linked to their condition, the teen said: "[There's] nothing I’m sure about, but as I’ve gotten older I've definitely had stomach troubles, which I wouldn’t be surprised was a side effect."
The teen also described having some 'minor stomach pains' after eating certain objects, as well as 'pretty bad' bowel movements, and an iron deficiency.
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Cleveland Clinic warns that the dangers of pica can include damage to your teeth, as well as objects getting stuck in the digestive tract, causing blockages, tearing or other damage.
But in spite of the potential issues that could come with eating inedible objects, the teen explained that their compulsion to eat the items typically outweighs any concerns they might have about the impacts.
There are a few items that are 'off the table', though, with the Reddit user explaining that they won't eat - or drink - 'most inedible liquids'.
"Drinking something inedible gets your stomach pumped," they said, adding: "That being said, I’m not looking to eat any cleaning products, both for safety and the fact that if soap tastes bad, I doubt anything else in that range will be much better."
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The teen has previously 'tried to stop' eating inedible objects after being urged by their loved ones, but they admitted they typically end up 'relapsing'.
They're now hoping to find a professional who may be able to help them take steps to tackle the condition, 'if not just for the proof that [them] overcoming it will show [they're] getting better'.
"It’s never bothered me, and there’s still some dissonance in my brain, but I know it isn’t normal and will do more harm than good," they said.
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Experts aren't sure on what causes pica, however, there are certain factors that can increase the likelihood of someone developing the condition, including stress and anxiety, cultural or learned behaviors, and negative conditions during childhood.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone, contact National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). You can reach them on their free hotline at 1(888)-375-7767, which is open Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.
Topics: Mental Health, Reddit, Health, Food and Drink
Emily Brown