Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Pica

mayday101
mayday101
Anybody here suffer from Pica? It is where you eat things that are inedible like, dirt, paint, ash etc, i have heard it might be linked to anxiety, thanks for any feedback
gramybear
gramybear
I USE TO EAT DIRT WHEN I WAS A KID. HATE TO ADMIT THAT BUT I DID AND I LIKE IT TOO. I HEARD IT'S CAUSED FROM A DEFICIENCY. HAVE YOU TALKED TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT IT YET?
vonnyzzz
vonnyzzz
sorry no, but the way my wieght is going it , it probably would be best for me to start eating them...might lose some wieght.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I used to eat ants when I was a kid cuz they were spicy lol. I guess that isn't pica though, since ants are food (insects are food)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello mayday
I don't post here but saw your message on the front page as I signed in.
I had PICA ( I kept eating carrots and although I have olive skin I was turning a strange colour), and it was due to an iron deficiency which then presented itself with a very sore ulcerated tongue, something I have never had. I have to say that this didn't help my anxiety. When my iron levels were put right with tablets called Ferrous Sulphate my tongue got better.
Zinc could be a problem here too and I would suggest some blood tests just to be sure.
I also used to eat dirt and coal when I was a toddler.
Hope this helps
Regards
Affable
deleted_user
deleted_user
I understand that pica -- specifically eating dirt or baking soda is from a deficiency in IRON. Unless, you have a medical reason not to, I would suggest taking an iron pill daily. If there are side effects you may need to take iron every other day (or stop altogether). Anyways, when I took iron pills my cravings went away. Eventually, I had to stop taking iron pills altogther. I now try to get iron from spinach (eat it in salads).
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know it has been more than a year so I am hoping that you are still a part of this web site. Are you still having problems with PICA? Mine started about a month ago & is VERY out of control... I constantly crave sand & the smell of exhaust, gasoline, or dry erase markers. I'm trying to find others that have the same problem to see how they safely deal with the problem. I recently found out I was anemic so I know the source of the problem, but when I take the iron pills they make me very light headed so I had to stop taking them. I really don't want to go to the doctor about this. Its really hard for me to get time off of work to go, plus I'm REALLY embarrassed. Any advise??
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know it has been more than a year so I am hoping that you are still a part of this web site. Are you still having problems with PICA? Mine started about a month ago & is VERY out of control... I constantly crave sand & the smell of exhaust, gasoline, or dry erase markers. I'm trying to find others that have the same problem to see how they safely deal with the problem. I recently found out I was anemic so I know the source of the problem, but when I take the iron pills they make me very light headed so I had to stop taking them. I really don't want to go to the doctor about this. Its really hard for me to get time off of work to go, plus I'm REALLY embarrassed. Any advise??
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know it has been more than a year so I am hoping that you are still a part of this web site. Are you still having problems with PICA? Mine started about a month ago & is VERY out of control... I constantly crave sand & the smell of exhaust, gasoline, or dry erase markers. I'm trying to find others that have the same problem to see how they safely deal with the problem. I recently found out I was anemic so I know the source of the problem, but when I take the iron pills they make me very light headed so I had to stop taking them. I really don't want to go to the doctor about this. Its really hard for me to get time off of work to go, plus I'm REALLY embarrassed. Any advise??
mayday101
mayday101
Hi Mercadies,
Funily enough my Pica has cleared up, I had some counselling which on the surface seemd really unhelpful but Ithink it helped me to stop judging myself and the things I do as either right or wrong which i think was a really usefulthing for me, Myanxiety has been a ;lot lower as well although the holiday period always raises it a bit!

I think the mostcommon cause of pica is a deficiency (although it is also something quite common for people with severe autism and OCD like traits)
Idon'tthink Ihad an iron deficiency although Iam a femlae vegetarian which would make me a prime candidate but I'm guessing if the Pica is due to low iron then you would need to increase youriron levels have a look at this website for foods containing iron if the tablets aren't working for you: http://www.24hrfitness.co.uk/nutrition/2010/foods-containing-iron.html
sorry if this isn't very helpful, let me know how you get on,
M
deleted_user
deleted_user
I suffer from it, I'm seeing a specialist doctor about it soon, but it's been diagnosed. I compulsively eat plastic, paper, skin products, and even wood glue at one point in time. It's really screwing with my health. They said it may be triggered by PTS and, yeah, Anxiety. The urge seems to really go up when I'm on edge.