I have a problem that over the years has gotten worse. I consume paper
(newspaper). I actually eat masses of paper and at times I substitute regular
meals for this vice. It has totally disrupted my life and I am embarrassed to
discuss this with anyone. I did talk to my sister who said that a physician she
spoke with called this disorder "PICA" behavior.
How can i stop this problem i need help any advice would be great.
O.o umm.. eating paper isn't exactly..healthy?
I believe you should just hide the newspaper and paper around the house
somewhere where it'll be locked up, and hand the key over to a friend. Or if the
paper isn't any importaint, just throw it away.
Hope you get over this habit soon, good luck and take care, messed.
First of all identify the time of day or situations where you feel like you need
to do this, it's just like losing weight you just need to do something else
during those peak times when you would normally eat paper. You are probably
doing this because you've never learned to deal with anxiety in a constructive
way. The best way to break a habit is to replace it with something else. Like if
you feel the urge to go eat paper go for a run or do something physical. And not
talking about it is obviously not working and you shouldn't be embarrassed
either. You also should program your environment to help you succeed, just
merely hiding the paper or locking it up isn't going to help you need to keep it
out of your house if it isn't there you can't eat it. Oh and talking about it
will help you get down to the root cause and that can also help you stop.
Keep yourself busy - what did you do before starting on the habit? Like any
habit its in the mind as well as the physical. Like my habit is chewing my
nails. To break the habit I distract myself with other things, and all my mates
know I have the habit, so if ever they see me doing it they get to give my hand
a slap. Sounds immature I know, but if it'll kick my finger-nail biting habit
then I'll do stuff like that.
Have a reward system, like if you control your temptation for a certain number
of hours, you get a slice of cheesecake, or for the whole day, shopping for a
new outfit, etc...
maybe you could call a helpline...I know they have helplines for people who are
obsessive/compulsive...and ones for people with panic disorder,
I think yours sounds like obsessive/compulsive....when did you first start doing
this? you may need to see a professional about this, cause they have better
ideas of how to handle things like what you do...
I hope that you quit though, newspaper ink can cause liver and stomach
problems...
well, if you could switch newspaper with something, that would be a little
better...but im guessing that there is something about newspaper that is linked
to something else....not a psycologist..just guessing
Any addiction is a matter of behavioral modification--were I you, I would seek
professional help. Forget being embarassed! Your exodus from this ailment might
help someone else one day. Stay strong!
yes i have heard of pica or pika. most people do this because they arent getting
the essential minerals and vitamins in their diet so they eat starnge objects.
go see a physician first though.
*curious*
erm... dunno how you put this.... but how do you eat paper?.....
unconciously?.... or it is just a burning desire pushing you to take paper as
food.....?
anyway.... dont be embarrased... it is not wrong to eat paper (as long as it is
hygenic) come on...ppl do take rocks or bits of metals as food too.....
Many people have the strangest secrets to reveal, don't worry if you eat paper,
I've seen someone in my school eat it, only he's in special education and a lot
of people hate or don't like him I don't
like him either cause he has a stupid grudge on me
Besides, if anyones watched the Guiness book of World Records, there was an old
woman (I think around Europe, don't know exactly) who ate HUGE amounts of
dirt/sand @_@ but I got nothing against it, so don't freak out, your not alone
^^
But remeber, you have to feel comfortable with the choices you make, but I
wouldn't know much about that, I';m never comfortable ^^;;;;
Maybe its the texture of paper you possibly like, if thats the case then just
find some healthy food around the same and eat that instead, you may possibly be
able to turn it to your own advantage. If you like to chew then just constantly
chew chewing gum ^_^; I am sorry, I will shut up now.
Try eating gum. It will keep you mouth busy... That doesn't sound right... But
you get the point... Always eat gum... As long as your chewing something, you
won't remember eating paper again...
You posted this a long time ago, I hope you got over your problem... But I
posted anyway just in case you still have that problem..
eating books, papers... i checked answers.com... it's called bibliophagy,
another form of pica. it's a medical disorder, so you should seek professional
help. they would be able to help with that craving of yours.
I know that it is something that you are probably really embarrassed about but I
think that you definitely need to get some help with this. I used to be a
cutter. It was something that I hid for a long time. And I thought that it
wasn't really hurting myself. But it wasn't something normal and it was an
addiction that I couldn't stop by myself. You have already made the first step
by asking for help on MT and admitting that you have a problem. The rest really
isn't that difficult. Getting some professional help will make it so much easier
to help you stop this confusing habit. So I cheer you on and send my prayers
your way! Good Luck!
I have a problem that over the years has gotten worse. I consume paper (newspaper). I actually eat masses of paper and at times I substitute regular meals for this vice. It has totally disrupted my life and I am embarrassed to discuss this with anyone. I did talk to my sister who said that a physician she spoke with called this disorder "PICA" behavior.
How can i stop this problem i need help any advice would be great.
O.o umm.. eating paper isn't exactly..healthy?
I believe you should just hide the newspaper and paper around the house somewhere where it'll be locked up, and hand the key over to a friend. Or if the paper isn't any importaint, just throw it away.
Hope you get over this habit soon, good luck and take care, messed.
First of all identify the time of day or situations where you feel like you need to do this, it's just like losing weight you just need to do something else during those peak times when you would normally eat paper. You are probably doing this because you've never learned to deal with anxiety in a constructive way. The best way to break a habit is to replace it with something else. Like if you feel the urge to go eat paper go for a run or do something physical. And not talking about it is obviously not working and you shouldn't be embarrassed either. You also should program your environment to help you succeed, just merely hiding the paper or locking it up isn't going to help you need to keep it out of your house if it isn't there you can't eat it. Oh and talking about it will help you get down to the root cause and that can also help you stop.
very...interesting ::supporting hug:: feel better I know not what else to say. o_o;
Keep yourself busy - what did you do before starting on the habit? Like any habit its in the mind as well as the physical. Like my habit is chewing my nails. To break the habit I distract myself with other things, and all my mates know I have the habit, so if ever they see me doing it they get to give my hand a slap. Sounds immature I know, but if it'll kick my finger-nail biting habit then I'll do stuff like that.
Have a reward system, like if you control your temptation for a certain number of hours, you get a slice of cheesecake, or for the whole day, shopping for a new outfit, etc...
merged: 12-25-2005 ~ 01:30am
Good Luck! ^_^ *hug*
maybe you could call a helpline...I know they have helplines for people who are obsessive/compulsive...and ones for people with panic disorder,
I think yours sounds like obsessive/compulsive....when did you first start doing this? you may need to see a professional about this, cause they have better ideas of how to handle things like what you do...
I hope that you quit though, newspaper ink can cause liver and stomach problems...
VERY MUCH LUCK
newspaper is bad... u should eat some chocolate instead! ^_^
well, if you could switch newspaper with something, that would be a little better...but im guessing that there is something about newspaper that is linked to something else....not a psycologist..just guessing
Any addiction is a matter of behavioral modification--were I you, I would seek professional help. Forget being embarassed! Your exodus from this ailment might help someone else one day. Stay strong!
merged: 12-25-2005 ~ 02:03am
Thought you might need a place to start looking...
http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/pica_disorder.htm
yes i have heard of pica or pika. most people do this because they arent getting the essential minerals and vitamins in their diet so they eat starnge objects. go see a physician first though.
*curious*
erm... dunno how you put this.... but how do you eat paper?..... unconciously?.... or it is just a burning desire pushing you to take paper as food.....?
anyway.... dont be embarrased... it is not wrong to eat paper (as long as it is hygenic) come on...ppl do take rocks or bits of metals as food too.....
Many people have the strangest secrets to reveal, don't worry if you eat paper, I've seen someone in my school eat it, only he's in special education and a lot of people hate or don't like him
I don't
like him either cause he has a stupid grudge on me 
Besides, if anyones watched the Guiness book of World Records, there was an old woman (I think around Europe, don't know exactly) who ate HUGE amounts of dirt/sand @_@ but I got nothing against it, so don't freak out, your not alone ^^
But remeber, you have to feel comfortable with the choices you make, but I wouldn't know much about that, I';m never comfortable ^^;;;;
Maybe its the texture of paper you possibly like, if thats the case then just find some healthy food around the same and eat that instead, you may possibly be able to turn it to your own advantage. If you like to chew then just constantly chew chewing gum ^_^; I am sorry, I will shut up now.
i don´t know it is very strange. I think that you must do like everybody when they want to stop doing something. you must STOP.
Try eating gum. It will keep you mouth busy... That doesn't sound right... But you get the point... Always eat gum... As long as your chewing something, you won't remember eating paper again...
You posted this a long time ago, I hope you got over your problem... But I posted anyway just in case you still have that problem..
eating books, papers... i checked answers.com... it's called bibliophagy, another form of pica. it's a medical disorder, so you should seek professional help. they would be able to help with that craving of yours.
I know that it is something that you are probably really embarrassed about but I think that you definitely need to get some help with this. I used to be a cutter. It was something that I hid for a long time. And I thought that it wasn't really hurting myself. But it wasn't something normal and it was an addiction that I couldn't stop by myself. You have already made the first step by asking for help on MT and admitting that you have a problem. The rest really isn't that difficult. Getting some professional help will make it so much easier to help you stop this confusing habit. So I cheer you on and send my prayers your way! Good Luck!