Pica disorder

[Ade2015]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I wish to know how to overcome my eating disorder. I eat a lot of chalk daily, it's actually an addiction for me. My psychologist said to me it's PICA disorder. Anyone going through this also ?

[salab]

Hi

The eating of chalk could quite possibly be related to an iron deficiency.

Pica is the medieval Latin name for the bird called the magpie, who, it is claimed, has a penchant for eating almost anything. Chalk is just one of the many different non-foods like soil, clay, laundry starch, ice, ashes, plaster and coal that can be craved.

I craved ice and was eating it by the tray full some years ago and my doctor had no idea that it could be related to an iron deficiency, but sure enough, when my iron deficiency was resolved, so the craving for ice disappeared.

[Ade2015 in reply to salab]

Thanks Salam for the info, helps a lot. I'm presently suffering from chronic anaemia due to heavy periods and spotting from endometriosis. I'm on iron tablets but not still getting enough as I loose lot of blood monthly. I hope I can survive this and probably that will resolve my pica too.

xxx

[Hidden]

I remember hearing a tape years ago by a guy who had training in vet medicine, then went on to people medicine. He said pica is a sign of a mineral deficiency, most definitely. Looked it up- it can show up in pregnant women and people who have celiac disease (because that prevents proper nutrient absorption). Salab has good advice- start with assuming it's an iron deficiency. (The guy on the tape said that pica can be one reason horses chew on wood.)