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Is there a medical name for compulsively eating one's own body or is that a kind of OCD?
I've noticed my best friend constantly picks at her body all day, then eats it; dandruff, scabs, boogers, hair follicles, blood, fingernails... I'd like to confront her about it, but I can't find a medical name, if it's it's own condition, or maybe if it's a kind of OCD. When confronted in any capacity, she says something like, "I can't help it, but it's just a thing," and changes the subject while picking at herself more.... I'm really worried about her, but I'd like to give us both a place to start talking about it that is an informed medical perspective.
3 Answers
- 9 years ago
Dermatillomania: the overwhelming compulsion to pick at one's own skin.
Trichotillomania: compulsive hair pulling.
Onychophagia: nail-biting
These are all body focused repetitive behaviors.
Some causes could be:
Stress, anxiety, or some other psychological factor.
Chemical imbalance.
Traumatic Events.
I wish you good luck in helping your friend.
- 4 years ago
i assume i could do this.........yet I plan to apply it myself for yet another 30 or 40 years. technologies could have stepped forward so they wont be attracted to what's left of me by utilising then.