Hi, I'm Jonah. I'm 41, and ashamed to admit that I swallow things I shouldn't.

[Toofless-suh-suh-sorry...]

I've anxiety and depression and related symptoms, I self-harm, hallucinate, was abused. I feel like a freak. I'm supposed to find people who understand what these things are like, and I'm getting there on other sites; but... I've trouble dealing with my habit of swallowing things, and I've not been able (or terribly willing, I'm avoidant as well) to find anyone similar to me, though I suppose I can't be alone. I seem to mostly swallow things to hide them, particularly if they're triggering, so while I do eat paper, it'll be to destroy what I've written or whatever. Sometimes it seems it's to self-harm, so it'll be batteries or keys or... just about anything. Jewelry, USBs, stones, Lego men... you've no idea, nothing's safe with me. I do covet and crave some things, polished stones and those ornamental glass stones are a problem for me, and I'll sometimes steal things that appeal to me.
I hate it. I actually both need to find someone who knows what this is like, and dread it at the same time. It's not quite like my other stuff, I fear I may not react well to knowing someone who does the same as me, and I don't really understand that myself.
This's been incredibly difficult to get out.
Thank you for your time. I wish everyone well.

[Cuchculan]

Welcome to the forum. Good to have you as a member. Here you are with like minded people. People who understand. As we all suffer from something or other. So feel free to ask any questions. Our members are always willing to help others out. Good chatroom too. 3 posts to enter the room.

Find the correct section of the forum that suits your condition and create a new topic on it. This is just a welcome section. Never really get the same amount of help in this section as you would on the other sections of the forums. So whatever one suits the questions you are asking. Get much better answers.

All users of the chatroom must be 18 years old or over. The room is off limits to anybody under the age of 18.

[TaraE]

I'm sorry to hear about your eating disorder (if it's ok to call it that)? What do you think you eat lego men for? Do they trigger something from your childhood? This is intriguing, I can't wait to hear more.

[Lynnmain]

This reminds me of something that pregnant women can go through called pica.
I believe anyone can have it not just pregnant women. If I remember correctly it's when they eat non food items such as clay, dirt , stones...
Do you see a therapist for this?

[Toofless-suh-suh-sorry...]

Um, sorry folks, I'm still finding this site overwhelming (it doesn't take much to overwhelm me, unfortunately); and I've had a relapse. Thanks for your comments. I am seeing a therapist and now this whole thing has become a bigger deal because I had a really bad episode and had to have surgery to remove a whole lot of junk that I swallowed, a good deal of it potentially lethal. And yes, it mostly does seem to be items that are "triggery" for me and which relate back to childhood traumas in some way or other. I haven't found any pica stuff so far that feels like it fits, but I'll keep looking.
I'm having trouble finding where I belong in here, and what I'm meant to be doing, so I'm sorry if I'm getting it all wrong and am under anyone's feet. I just have to persevere despite confusion and anxiety, and it takes a while sometimes for me to get things the right way around in my head. I'm sorry if I keep popping up in the wrong places and doing the wrong things, but I'll get it sorted eventually.
Cheers, and take care.

[tmcrews]

I have a similar problem with chewing on things. Soft rubber is my favorite. I've done it since I was a child. My barbies were always covered in teeth marks.I've never really figured out what triggers it or why I do it. Sometimes it comes out of pure boredom. Other times it happens when I'm stressed. I hope it helps to know there are people who know what you're going through and will not pass judgement on you.