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I Have Pica Syndrome

It Started With Crayons

By: tigernnice
Written on January 28th, 2013
When I was a kid I would love the smell of a new box of Crayola crayons. I can't remember how old I was when I first ate one. To this day they are still my favorite. I'm almost thirty and assumed I would or grow it one day. I have tried iron pills and quitting cold turkey but haven't been able to kick it. Only two other peopleknow. My mother and husband. I'd die if anyone knew it's so embarrassing. The list of things I have eaten that are not food is so long... It always starts with a smell that pulls me in. Fresh clean dry dirt, sand from art kits, chalk dust, wall plaster, baked clay, plaster masks, unscented candles and of course crayons almost any brand but Crayola is my favorite. When I was pregnant with my first daughter I kept it under control for her sake but now that I'm pregnant again I can't seem to resist it's more over powering then ever.. I'm scared something will happen to her... Last week I ate a whole box of birthday cake candles...
By: tigernnice
Age: 26-30 , Female
306 people have read this story

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11 responses
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    Lesliecinga
    Lesliecinga

    buy clean White Dirt From Georgia
    http://www.georgiawhitedirt.com/prices

    People all over the world consume Clay, Earth, Dirt etc....
    This practice has been going on for millions of years. Do a little research and Im sure you will see that you are not abnormal, in fact you are just the opposite. Researchers are also starting to see that their may be some benefit to eating soil. It could be an ingrained biologiacal response.

    Feb 4
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      ASHPoDThePortalFur
      ASHPoDThePortalFur

      Humans haven't even been alive for more than a few hundred thousand years. Your point is valid, but commercial dirt typically contains other chemicals in them, and dirt from the ground, well, the cultures have developed immunity to the bacteria in them. They may be still harmful to her as she isn't evolved to have that immunity. She should find a source for "edible" dirt.

      Also in no way do I recommend eating it in the amount she eats it.

      Feb 17
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    tobywombat
    tobywombat

    I really love the smell of crayons. I can see how it's not that far a leap, actually, from that to what you're describing. So I don't think it's so totally bizarre.

    Have you ever harmed yourself, or someone else, by it? Is there a risk of that?

    Jan 28
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      tigernnice
      tigernnice

      I have never harmed anyone but it has made me sick in the past and I'm worried the effect it will have on my unborn baby.

      Jan 28
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      tobywombat
      tobywombat

      OK, gotcha, I see what you mean. It sounds obvious, but have you checked out what's going on medically? What does your doctor think -- is there a danger to your baby? Is there any treatment that can help you kick the habit if that's what you want?

      Sorry for what's probably a patronising question, I'm sure you've been through all this ages ago :/

      Jan 28
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      tigernnice
      tigernnice

      Doctors normally say it's an iron deficiency. But I have tried boost my iron intake and taken iron pills and still can't beat three cravings. Some think it's an ocd thing but idk.

      Jan 28
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      tobywombat
      tobywombat

      Hmm, ok... well I'm no medical expert. I just wondered. But if it doesn't help, it doesn't help.

      A lot of people find it tough to quit smoking or drinking when they get pregnant. Maybe it's like that. It definitely doesn't sound crazy, anyhow :)

      What was different first time round, when you were pregnant with your daughter, from how it is now? Are other things different in your life?

      Jan 28
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      tigernnice
      tigernnice

      I'm not sure. They say every pregnancy is different so I just guess the cravings are much stronger this time around.

      Jan 28
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      tobywombat
      tobywombat

      Yeah, that makes sense. And some weird cravings are normal when you're pregnant too, right? But I think I'm right to understand that you've felt the same way since you were a kid, and still do when you aren't pregnant too?

      How does your husband feel about it? (He's the father of your child, right?)

      Jan 28
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      tigernnice
      tigernnice

      Yes I have had the cravings since childhood. And when pregnant or not pregnant. He's very understanding and doesn't judge and truss to help me control it.

      Jan 28
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      koekje
      koekje

      Me

      It's not necessarily an iron deficiency. It could be a deficiency of any kind of nutrient. My grandma told me that her mother used to have severe calcium deficiency when she was pregnant and she craved egg scales for that kind of reason. She used to carry them with her in the pockets of her apron and ate one every now and then when noon could see it, because she was embarrassed about this. I myself used to eat chalks.

      Feb 14
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