ocd, his brain is telling him to put gross things in his mouth, what?

[debbietoby]

Has anyone heard of such a thing?  He's nine and knows better but says he can't stop his brain from telling him to do it.  He also puts his finger in the toilet before leaving the bathroom.  He has put bugs, frogs and god knows what else in his mouth, just for a second then takes them out.  What's up with that?  I need so much needed help!!!!!!!!!!  Any information may help.  Thanks!

[elohveey_12]

Research pica... It's the urge to swallow absurd things. People swallow such crazy things. Batteries, mops, cameras, animals, dirt, hairballs, paint, or even animal feces. It's common but some cases not as serious as others. There have been cases where animals suck as dogs or hamsters eat their toys, or other house hold items.
Pica is an eating disorder typically defined as the persistent ingestion of nonnutritive substances for a period of at least 1 month at an age at which this behavior is developmentally inappropriate (eg, >18-24 mo). The definition is occasionally broadened to include the mouthing of nonnutritive substances. Individuals who present with pica have been reported to mouth and/or ingest a wide variety of nonfood substances, including, but not limited to, clay, dirt, sand, stones, pebbles, hair, feces, lead, laundry starch, vinyl gloves, plastic, pencil erasers, ice, fingernails, paper, paint chips, coal, chalk, wood, plaster, light bulbs, needles, string, cigarette butts, wire, and burnt matches.......>>>>> Maybe since he is older he realizes how weird and crazy it is to swallow whatever it is so he just takes it out of his mouth. This CAN and DOES happen to adults too.

[Krys_10]

Hi

I can identify with your son somewhat. I have OCD, and while my brain doesn't tell me to put gross things in my mouth, it does create very gross images of me eating those gross things. (I'm 19 btw.) I can't clean the bathroom or the kitchen because I get awful pictures in my head of me putting nasty things in my mouth. It sounds totally dumb as I type it, but it's a real nuisance. I have suffered with this for years and I have no idea how to get rid of it. I hope someone can provide a helpful answer for me and your son. :-S