Anyone have any strange addictions (pica)?  What causes pica?
596736
ok,i have pica,so ive been told,i eat paper,an i was the kid chewing on the draw string of my jams at 15,it is a nerve condition,maybe connected to a mental illness,i have dysthymia,an anxiety,you need to check with a pro,befor you harm yourself
152338
Had a friend hooked on cocaine and opiates.  I wrote about Ibogaine on this site, in fact.  A monkey on his back is a good description.
302148
If your behavior has lasted for over one month it is possible that you have a compulsive eating disorder termed "pica".  The word "pica" comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird that is famous for eating anything and everything.  Pica may include mouthing and/or ingesting a wide variety of nonfood substances, including, but not limited to, clay, dirt, sand, stones, pebbles, hair, feces, lead, laundry starch, vinyl gloves, plastic, pencil erasers, ice, fingernails, paper, paint chips, coal, chalk, wood, plaster, light bulbs, needles, string, cigarette butts, wire, and burnt matches.  Gastrointestinal (GI) tract complications, including mechanical bowel problems, constipation, ulcerations, perforations, and intestinal obstructions caused by bezoar formation and the presence of undigestible materials in the intestinal tract have resulted from pica. \n\nIn some cases data suggest that the affected individual may have an iron or zinc deficiency or behavioral problems.  Stress of dieting may be a precipitating factor to relieve hunger pangs with non-food substances.  Pica frequently spontaneously remits in young children and pregnant women; however, it may persist for years if untreated.  You should let your physician know your concerns so that he may treat you properly.
730998
I can really relate. I love sugar!  I could eat it stragiht from the bag.  I quit cold turkey too.  It was helpful for me to eat equal or splenda straight from the packet if you could believe that.  It diminished the sugar cravings.  Once you feel the difference in your body after removing alot of sugar  you won't really crave it anymore.  I feel so much better than before and you will too.  Also drink alot of water.  Sounds crazy but for me peanuts help too.
153102
There is a mental disorder that causes this but the name is escaping me at the moment. If you are asking because you know someone who does this get help! This can be treated but swallowing non edible objects can kill kids. Get help fast ok!
409699
yeah its possible but like any other addiction it is not healthy  you need to talk to some one about your addiction especially if it is affecting other parts of your life like your job or your relationships
1061016
Cool! How'd you manage not to spill your bowl of water? What do you mean? Witch soda are you talking about? Witch diet or witch regular? Meerrrheeeeehhheeeee!!!
723782
Acne\nFood cravings\nCramps\nFatigue
874591
You may have anemia, That will cause you to crave strange things. Paint, dirt etc...
1069601
When I was a kid I got addicted to Circus Atari. I think it had something to do with smoking a lot of weed. LOL! I still smoke, but I don't own an Atari & the modern video games are too complicated, so I no longer have that problem.
186490
Smoking might be horrible, but it's addicting due to the nicotine in it. Same with other drugs. That's why most people do it. It's addiction. \nFor example, I'm addicted to chocolate. I cannot go a day without having chocolate. It's not bad for me (I mean it can give me acne or bad teeth even though I brush my teeth), I have to have chocolate.
410217
Apples do have a small ammount of caffiene but that should not be enough to cause an addiction. Most likely your body is craving nutients in the apple that you don't get enough of in your other foods.
279980
an addiction to sugar via other sugary things \nsoda\nalcohol\ncandy\npasta\netc....
348422
Im addicted to both. I dont know if it makes me any different from other people who are also addicted to something else. I know what you're saying. I also look at some three hundred and something pound people eating junk food. That's because they're addicted to it. Its wierd how people can pile up all that filth inside them.
452927
Sweet Thang- \nyou have a disorder called PICA and it referes to the eating of non-food items (or strangely odd food items- not mainstream) and it is highly indicitive of anemia, especially in pregnant women and the black population (anemia is more common in blacks, as well- a connection? I think so!).\nS ogo to your dr and have a simple blood test- and take your iron!
849335
The most addictive drug out there is nicotine. The most addictive illegal (or 'Street' drug) is the smoked version of Meth.\n\nHere is a list of addictive drugs from the most addictive to the least from my abnormal psychology book...\n\nNicotine\nIce, Glass (smoked methamphetamine)\nCrack\nCrystal Meth (injected methamphetamine)\nValium (diazepam, a common prescription drug)\nQuaalude\nSeconal\nAlcohol\nHeroine\nCrank (amphetamine taken nasally)\nCocaine\nCaffeine\nPCP\nMarijuana\nEcstasy\nPsilocybin Mushrooms\nLSD\nMescaline\n\nHope that helps put some perspective on it.\n\nAnything that is addictive, is so because it has a side effect that screws up the nervous system in some way.\n\n1. Cocaine causes rushes of dopamine (used to transmit pleasure sensations between neurons) called a 'high'.\n2. To protect themselves from dopamine rushes the neurons allow dopamine receptors on their membranes to die off.\n3. When a person is not taking cocaine their dopamine levels return to normal but the person feels depressed because the normal levels are absorbed less than normal since the receptors have been reduced.\n4. This causes the person to desire the drug to achieve the pleasure again.\n5. This also means that to achieve the same 'high' as before, larger amounts of cocaine are needed since there are less receptors for it.\n6. The cycle continues until the person quits cold turkey and allows the body to regrow some of the dopamine receptors, but they will never return to the original levels which means the cocaine addict is 'at risk', or addicted at some level for their entire life.
350971
The name for wanting to eat or place things in your mouth that have no nutritional value is "Pica". You have an obsessive compulsive disorder. It is my suggestion that you first tell your doctor then seek a therapist. My second suggestion is that you do NOT ever try out any street drugs because obsessive compulsive tend to become addicts. Use caution when using prescribed drugs and/or alcohol. Learn to meditate and learn biorhythm control over your body.\n\nGood luck hon. This sounds like hard work but it will be worth learning this self control.