Unusual Urges to Consume Non-Food Items
At 23 years old, I am contending with various health issues, including anemia (with an iron saturation of 6%), and I’ve read that this might be influencing my bizarre cravings. There’s more going on with my health, but delving into all of it would take quite a while. Recently, I stumbled upon a video showcasing cleaning techniques, and I experienced an intense and unexpected hunger when I witnessed the soap lathering. Despite having dinner afterward, my cravings persisted, and regular food has proven ineffective at satisfying my appetite. To provide some background, I also have bipolar II disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder. These peculiar cravings appeared following several stressful experiences in my life. In the past, I was compelled to induce vomiting due to an OCD ritual, which I believed was linked to avoiding “bad luck.” Logically, I understood that there was no connection, but at one point, I was so entangled in these thoughts that I restricted my food intake entirely, convinced that eating brought misfortune. I was also unmedicated during that challenging period. Fortunately, I managed to break those cycles a few years ago, but now I face an ongoing struggle with overwhelming hunger. I find myself in the obese category today, unlike previously, and I am actively pursuing options for gastric bypass surgery due to my incessant appetite. Although I feel confident I won’t actually consume soap, I am concerned that sharing these cravings might jeopardize my chances of qualifying for the procedure. Still, if there’s a viable solution, I’d like to discover it. These cravings don’t dominate my thoughts, yet whenever I come across soap—either in videos or in person—I get this overwhelming desire to consume it. It’s as if I believe that succumbing to this urge would somehow provide relief and satisfaction. I’ve made a conscious effort to limit my viewing of such cleaning videos but find myself tempted to order edible chalk to see if that might alleviate my unusual hunger.
Answers (1)
2/7/2026, 11:30:53 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel confused and concerned about your unusual cravings, especially given your complex health background. The strong urges to consume non-food items, also known as pica, can sometimes be related to nutritional deficiencies, psychological factors, or stress. In your case, low iron levels from anemia may be contributing to these cravings.
Key Points:
- Cravings and Iron Deficiency: Your low iron saturation can lead to cravings for non-food items. Addressing anemia is crucial and may help alleviate some of these urges.
- Psychological Factors: Stress and past experiences, particularly related to OCD and eating behaviors, can also play a significant role in cravings. It's important to consider these emotional aspects as part of your overall management.
- Nutrition and Behavior Management: While the desire for non-food items can feel overwhelming at times, there are steps you can take to manage your cravings more effectively.
Next Steps:
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Focus on Nutritional Improvements:
- Consult a Healthcare Provider: While I can’t recommend direct medical consultations here, consider discussing your anemia with a healthcare professional to explore iron supplementation or dietary changes. Foods high in iron include red meat, leafy greens, and fortified cereals.
- Balanced Diet: Aim to eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients to help stabilize your appetite. Include protein, healthy fats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
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Address Psychological Factors:
- Therapeutic Support: Since you have a history of stress and OCD, engaging with a mental health professional could be beneficial. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or other therapeutic strategies may help manage these cravings.
- Mindfulness Techniques: Practice mindfulness or stress-reducing techniques to help you cope with urges when they arise. Simple practices like deep breathing or meditation can be useful.
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Avoid Triggers:
- Limit exposure to content that triggers your cravings, such as cleaning videos, as you’ve started to do. Finding alternative types of content that do not provoke these feelings may help.
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Alternative Foods: Instead of considering non-food items like edible chalk, focus on healthier, safe snacks that might satisfy some of your hunger without compromising your health.
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Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a diary of your cravings, what triggers them, and how you respond. This can provide insights into patterns and help you develop strategies to manage them.
If you experience significant distress or the cravings escalate, it’s important to reach out for support. Remember, you are not alone, and there are ways to address both the nutritional and psychological factors contributing to your urges.
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