An 18-year-old with a rare condition that causes them to crave non-food items like glass and their own teeth has discussed the physical effects it has had on their body.
The teenager originally talked about their condition in an ‘Ask Me Anything’ thread on Reddit and later provided more details about living with pica, a mental health disorder they have had for their ‘entire life’.
The Cleveland Clinic describes pica as a condition where individuals ‘compulsively swallow non-food items’. While it is typically seen in children, research by the National Eating Disorders Association indicates that only 1.1 percent of adults engage in recurrent pica behaviors.
The Reddit user, who remains unnamed, first noticed their unusual behavior during their elementary school years.
They would demonstrate their ability to eat paper as a ‘party trick for attention’, and over time, they have consumed diverse items such as flowers, dried paint, ‘straight glass’, and even their own baby teeth after they fell out.
In addition to their preferred foods like hamburger helper and tomato, sausage, and rice, they told UNILAD that they ingest non-food items ‘every week’, stating: “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.”
Swallowing non-food items can pose serious risks, and the Cleveland Clinic warns that some objects might make pica ‘very hazardous’.
The teen described some health issues they link to their condition, stating: “[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.”
They also reported experiencing ‘minor stomach pains’ after eating certain items, ‘pretty bad’ bowel movements, and an iron deficiency.
The Cleveland Clinic highlights potential dangers of pica, including dental damage and the risk of objects becoming lodged in the digestive tract, leading to blockages or tears.
Despite these possible complications, the teen shared that their urge to consume inedible items generally outweighs any worries about the consequences.
However, there are some exceptions, as the Reddit user clarified they avoid consuming ‘most inedible liquids’.
“Drinking something inedible gets your stomach pumped,” they explained, 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.”
The teen has attempted to stop consuming inedible items at the behest of loved ones, but admitted they often ‘relapse’.
They are now seeking a professional who can assist them in managing 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 reflected.
Experts remain uncertain about the causes of pica, but factors such as stress, anxiety, cultural or learned behaviors, and negative childhood experiences might increase the risk of developing the condition.
If any issues discussed here resonate with you and you need to talk, you can reach out to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) at their free hotline, 1(888)-375-7767, available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.