Am I the only one? Pica/anxiety

soccerblahhh · ‎14-09-2016

Hey im new here and i thought this would be a good place to open up. This is really hard for me to admit but I eat talcum/baby powder and raw rice and I always crave them. This may seem like a joke that people make fun of on my strange addictions but this is a serious condition called pica. I have been to the gp and they have put it down to an iron deficiency but I was also recomended to see a psychologist. They then diagnosed me with generalized anxiety disoreder and they told me that me eating the powder and rice had something to do with it. I guess im just wondering if there is anyone else like me because I feel like im the only one doing this.

TheSteve · ‎14-09-2016

Hi Soccer,

Thanks for sharing. Perhaps not as strange as you think - many people engage in certain behaviours that either stem from their anxiety, distract them from anxiety/depression, or fill some need which is not yet understood. Actually, in the US there was a TV show dedicated to it - My Strange Addiction.

So, while what you are doing is not necessarily good for your health, you are certainly not the only one. Seek the help your doctor has prescribed - psychologist and perhaps supplements/dietary change to fill any gaps in your vitamin/mineral balance. But most definitely, see the mental health professional and get this out on the table. It is really important, and the first step to getting past this.

We are here for you to chat anytime, all the best.

Steve

romantic_thi3f · ‎15-09-2016

Hi soccerblahhh,

I haven't met anyone with pica, but I've definately heard of it. Not sure how old you are but apparently 10-20% of people will have it before being an adult, so it's more common than you might think. I wonder if it would be helpful for you to link in with a support group so then you can meet others who have it to -

http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Have-Pica-Syndrome/99194

There's also a few Facebook groups too if you are on there (just search Pica Eating). I'm not sure how useful they'll be but it might help to know that you're not alone.