Toilet Paper Cravings, Lifelong Habit, and the Threat of Obstruction Kesha began eating toilet paper in sixth grade after moving away from her mother, finding comfort in the feel of two-ply dissolving on her tongue. She separates the plies, carries rolls in her purse and car, and sneaks sheets in dark movie theaters. Longstanding use spans 23 years, bringing cramps and constipation when she overeats. Fibrous buildup can cause bowel obstruction and be fatal, yet despite prayers and attempts, she cannot stop.
Tape Chewing as a Calming Fix That Takes Over Daily Life Andrea’s tape chewing began nine years ago when gum ran out and tape became the substitute, escalating to about three rolls a day. She chews strips for roughly 30 seconds as the sticky, chemical, glue-like taste breaks up, sometimes swallowing pieces and immediately adding more. The habit spans makeup time, homework, TV, work, jogging, and driving, intensifying when she feels sad or angry because it calms her. Chewed wads litter carpets, beds, and shoes, hidden rolls stash around the house, stomachaches and headaches appear, yet she dismisses any link and refuses to stop.
Chasing Crunch: Sand as Seasoning, Nail Files as Backup, Control Overwhelmed Bria craves the crunch of sand, sprinkling it like seasoning on food, dipping tortilla chips in it, and mixing it with gum for mouth-watering texture. The urge started five years ago after a beach mouthful and now follows her through daily routines, from class walks to bedtime pinches that leave gritty leftovers in her teeth by morning. When supplies run low she rubs nail files’ sandpaper against her teeth for the same crunch, and she prefers playground or park sand, hand-picked to remove big rocks because it feels natural and very crunchy. Family fears for her health, but she doesn’t care what’s in the sand and cannot control the compulsion.
Cosmetics as Food: Deodorant Dependence and Makeup Devoured in Secret Nicole’s life revolves around eating deodorant, a craving born in early childhood that escalated two years ago to about half a stick daily, with panic and a racing heart if she runs out. She scoops and chews preferred richer-tasting brands, also sprays for fast-absorbing taste despite initial tongue numbness, and failed quit attempts bring headaches and irritability. Despite stomach pain and vomiting, she keeps consuming and wants to stop but can’t, while loved ones worry about the chemicals. Bratanni cannot live without eating makeup, favoring metallic, lighter shades whose cleaner taste leaves color smeared across her face and clothes. She samples products in stores by licking them, hides stashes throughout her home, uses her long hair to conceal what she carries, began after tasting her mother’s makeup as a child, and keeps it secret to avoid relentless lecturing.