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331830 tn?1212983137

moth balls

i am addicted to moth balls. and i dont know what to do to stop. i have been at it since i was 16 and it has gotten alot worse. no one knows and i dont know who to talk too. PLEASE HELP ME
53 Responses
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Avatar universal
You are not alone. I did this for maybe 3years until I ended up sick in the hospital... I had slurred speech, rash, diarrhea, headaches, inability to walk without help, 25lb weight lost and never knew why. I broke the habit but still have the urge. I started sniffing but it lead to eating the bowl fresh (fresh ones of course)
I pray pray and pray that God delivers me from this. I have times when Im over it and others where I just have too
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This is all true what you are reading, but aswell as making you very anemic, this causes not enough oxygen to be delivered to you organs as there isnt enough red blood cells to carry the oxygen to them.  Ultimately this puts more pressure on your heart so your hear begins to work alot harder to pump more blood around your body.  This then causes your heart muscle to become stretched and became enlarged.  This is known as heart failure where the heart doesnt pump blood around the body effectivley.  This will cause shortness of breath, tiredness, water retention(in the form of ankle swelling and even stomach swelling) and if left untreated will cause heart attack or stroke.  Please get some help before it becomes too late my friends, i cant stress how much you are toying with you life, good luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too found myself being addicted to moth balls since i was a child, now im 21. Im here trying to break myself out of the habit, i use to put them in a sock just to get the high addictive fragrance, from there it wasn't enough i started to chew them up; till i just start eating them. Lately i started reading up about it and how harmful and fetal it can be to the body, i just had to make a change. I've found myself going without it for the 5 months the longest but whenever i get stress the urges over power me and i start again. I guess whenever we are addicted to something it takes time to stop. I know i have the will power and will overcome it soon. And to all of u who are with the same addiction, u just have to be strong and have the determination to STOP. If i've been off it for 5 months i know i have the will to stop my addiction FOREVER.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Don't feel a shame there are many who do the same thing. I work in a D/A center and have a lady who huff them. She like the smell there are many strange addictions out here never feel like you are a lone
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am totally addicted to the scent of mothballs.  It's not all over the house as I have a cat. It would be if not for the kitty. I smell them in a sock and keep them sealed.  I can't stop.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No it does not sound stupid I myself had an addiction to moth balls and during two of my pregnancy I had to sniff them all try he time I also am anemic....I've spoken to my Dr. And he said in anemic people the body lacks something which makes us CrAve certain things....
Helpful - 0
1899987 tn?1321508812
pica deficiency of iron. please look it up...the lower your iron the worst these symptoms are. In my case i can eat a 5 pound bag of Brach's mints in less than a week if you let me. Please have  your iron count checked. From what i was told my count is 8.0. the number 7.0 and below the doctors are looking at a transfusion. You arent producing the red blood cells which is assisting with tiredness and the lightheaded/passing out.
Helpful - 0
1801781 tn?1461629469
read the thread..really eye opening!
Helpful - 0
1831920 tn?1320857757
The smell of moth balls makes me cringe.  Do people really eat these?  I am just curious about this?
Helpful - 0
1801781 tn?1461629469
I avoid them like the plague, but I love the smell of gasoline and rubber cement.  Moth balls..hmmm..maybe!  My brain never thought to do anything, but avoid as I knew I liked the smell WAY too much.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have never spoken of this before. Just love the scent.  I don't get any "high" but the smell just is irresistible.
Helpful - 0
1699388 tn?1313836962
This amazes me. I have a pain pill addiction an the reason I frequent this forum. Moth balls?  Really?  Is it purely the smell u guys like or doesn't literally get u high somehow??  I agree with previous posters.....an addiction is addictiom nonetheless...but  just curious as to the details of this one?  Good luck and god bless u all :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also loved moth crystals smell as a child and got this uncontrollable urge as an adult to seek them out again. Now I can't put them down. I keep them by my bed. I love the smell and the slight nose burn. Omg what's wrong with me? They r a comfort after stressful days. I can't find the toilet deodorizer anymore ...  sad..... need help. Can't stop!!!  Smells sooooo goooood!!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm glad I found this forum. I have been searching for answers.  I love the smell of moth crystals gas and lemon pledge and the toilet bowl deoderizers that are crystal like and on bendable metal wire. The crystals take priority.  I was sniffing occasionally now I sniff 1/2 hrs at a time often. I can't Stop. I'm anemic n dialysis.    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am also a mothball addict. I chew up mothballs on a daily basis. I figured as long as I don't swallow them I would be fine. I have been doing this for 11yrs. I also have anemia and that is why we do it. I found out its actually called Pica. Its from being extremely anemic. I have gotten much better with controlling my cravings though.
Helpful - 0
271792 tn?1334979657
Rozay,

What you are doing is very dangerous, and I don't know that anyone here can relate or help you. You need to speak with professionals regarding this and I would start with your doctor. You are going to have to get honest with someone and that would be a great place to start. I hope it all works out for you and I wish you the best.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been sniffing toilet bowl cleaner for a few years now.. I keep it in a small galdware bowl and eat ice while I sniff it. Im not sure, but i dont feel a high, Im just so obsessed with the smell. I t give me the urge to eat it so insted i eat ice while i sniff it. On an avereage i eat about 15-20 cups of ice a day and i HAVE sniff the toilet bowl cleaner. I know i probably should stop but idk how
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am STUNNED.  I really thought I'd heard of most things!!!!  Here is how SICK I am!  Now, I'm wondering how I missed it!  

Well, stay strong. It's true. An addiction is an addiction.  I read just now, in several posts, this can kill you.  Dead is dead. Doesn't matter "what" made you so.

Stay strong!!!  Please don't give up!  Thanks for bringing your problem here. This is a wonderful site and the people truly care. I've had actual PROOF of that, for sure!!!

God bless!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hey moth yur not alone. im also absolutly addicted to eating mothballs. i dunno i think its the smell and taste that im so drawn and attracted to. no one knows this and i also have anemia but its not as severe. i always wonder y nothing happens to me after sooo much ingestion..im sure some kinda damage must be happening inside me but im not aware of it. i hope one day i can stop but seeing how i crave for it so badly i dunno how thats gonna happen. i guess im gonna be at it till something really bad happens. =( i know this is crazy and that i need serious help but i dunno where to go and its also very embarrassing..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was hospitalized with anemia from my love of sniffing mothballs. It was for me also a childhood memory thing and as an adult I sought them out, the napthalene ones were my favorite.

My red cell blood count was so low that I needed 6 transfusions of blood to stabilize my system. They doctors could not figure out what was wrong, but I knew, and was to embarrased to say.

They smell wonderful, but don't do it!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow!! I am in shock at what I am reading bc I used to do this.  I remember when I was a kid, my Mom had moth balls in the house... and I used to LOVE the way they smelled... so much that my mouth would water... I would open the box and sniff them...  chip small pieces off... chew it and spit them out. I don't do this anymore, bc i don't have moth balls in my house, and after reading that it is a true addiction, I won't buy them.  I have an obsession with smells and I smell everything.  I love the smells of lemon pledge, bleach, cleaning products, lemons in general, gas, glue, markers, anything lemon flavored, candles, detergent, Sporicidin soap is one of my favs... I just love the way certain things smell so much that I sorta wanna eat them lol... not that I do..but it's a thought that crosses my mind.  I just LOVE smells.  I never realized this was a true issue for people and thought I was just a strange child and alone in this.  I just told my husband that I used to do the moth ball thing, and he is the 1st  person I ever told.  He looked at me like I had 5 heads LOL.
Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
Sadly this is no longer by any means a rare problem.

It occurs in all age groups, not just teenagers, and in all countries.

There have been 4 requests for help on this list alone.

It has killed a number of people.
Helpful - 0
229538 tn?1300377767
Found this on line ...Some teenagers are using mothballs to get high, a trend that may be underreported, researchers say.

Reuters reported July 27 that users place mothballs, which contain paradichlorobenzene, in a bag and inhale from it for about 10 minutes. Some users also chew mothballs. The term "bagging" has been used to describe the habit.

Mental impairment, loss of coordination, and scaly skin may be symptoms of mothball abuse. Paradichlorobenzene, also found in air fresheners and insect repellents, can cause anemia and liver and kidney failure.

One French teen found sniffing mothball fumes took six months to recover; a twin sister took three months. Researchers noted that only three such cases have been reported but said the habit may be more widespread.  Wow !  Jimmy
Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
Hi Sniffinballs and welcome to the forum.

I would have to say that your drugs of choice (mothalls AND other solvents) are probably amongst the most dangerous ones of all.

You probably know that mothballs come in two types. One contains camphor and one contains paradichlorobenzene. Here in the UK, camphor is now a schedule one poison, because of the number of people it has killed. p-DCB isn't much better, and causes liver cell death, amongst many other effects. These are poisons designed to kill moths, not just deter them, and if they can kill moths.....

Strictly speaking it isn't an addiction, in that it is not associated with a withdrawal syndrome. It can however create a strong psychological dependency with cravings.

You do need to strongly consider quitting all solvents, before the damage is done.

You will need support to this. Ideally your family doctor is best placed to help you, but if you can't face that, these's loads of encouragement and support available right here on the list.

Take care.
Helpful - 0
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