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How To Stop Eating Slate Pencils?
Hi. I m 20years old girl. I ve been eating slate pencils since 8 years. I m anaemic and I also have OCD. I ve developed anal fissures due to hard stools caused by slate pencils. Now as its become very serious I want to get rid of them but I still crave to eat them. Help me get rid of this unusual craving.
Fri, 23 Oct 2015
Hello and welcome to HCM,
The habit of eating inedible stuff like slate pencils, clay, mud, chalk etc is called pica and it is indicative of severe iron deficiency.
I suggest you to get a hemogram done along with iron studies.
If there is iron deficiency, you need to take iron supplements for at-least three months to correct iron deficiency.
OCD may also be responsible for desire to eat slate pencils.
Thus, you also need to consult a psychiatrist for management of OCD.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
The habit of eating inedible stuff like slate pencils, clay, mud, chalk etc is called pica and it is indicative of severe iron deficiency.
I suggest you to get a hemogram done along with iron studies.
If there is iron deficiency, you need to take iron supplements for at-least three months to correct iron deficiency.
OCD may also be responsible for desire to eat slate pencils.
Thus, you also need to consult a psychiatrist for management of OCD.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
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