Pica and smells

A relative used to chew torch bulbs and earthworms, but thankfully lost that habit very early on.

I have spent almost my entire life engaging in some serious nail-biting. I have recently taken to self-hypnosis as a means to try and stop. It appears to be working so well, that I'm also having to work on skin-picking, now that I have long nails for probably the first time in 6 decades. There are quite a lot of books and online resources available to help with changing long-term habits, but so many that it is best for you to google it yourself and take your own pick. Giving up has probably also had an impact on my digestive system, but again I'm getting over it. I have also had some upswing of anxiety, but it appears to be manageable, with a whole host of different constructive displacement activities. I don't have any access here to hypnotherapists/therapists, and probably can't afford their services anyway, but sometimes you only  need two or three appointments to make a real difference. But I also reckon meditation, work concentration (hobbies) and mindfulness self-training would all help. The latter I haven't tried, but others find it effective.

i would think the polish craving is almost certainly a form of sensory seeking. I note that I rather enjoy such strong smells myself. And it is hazardous. I sort of reckon that my way of dealing with that (from decades back) was to get interested in other less strong, but more subtle smells, tastes, textures and sounds; probably in combination with the various ways to concentration listed above. I spent years working with various woods, and still actively seek out such smells. Most pleasant, and also motivational. If you have an interest in crafts and DIY. Go looking for a timber merchant where you can revel in such smells and do something constructive/creative at the same time. (But avoid anything to do with antique restoration or heavy wood treatments ;-) At home, develop an interest in aromatic teas and coffees. The same with fresh market produce. (I personally find some aromatherapy over the top but perhaps that is because I have the Mr Bean style aversion to strong perfumes. ;-) And an interest in rambling, seaside. woodlands, heaths and conservation might also have some added social benefits.

I have also completely done away with adding sugar to food, and always have drinks with no milk added. Natural tastes and smells are the best, but actually I also do not fancy living with diabetes. These things definitely enhance your sensory experience. I started doing many of these things when i was really quite young, so i suppose you might say that they are  long-term coping strategies. But frankly, i reckon the appreciation of such sensory stimuli is what has always stopped me from inescapable depression. These are things to savour that in some way replace some of the life 'givens' that I seem to find unattainable. On the other hand, they probably prevented others from realising that I could really could do with a bit of support.

A relative used to chew torch bulbs and earthworms, but thankfully lost that habit very early on.

I have spent almost my entire life engaging in some serious nail-biting. I have recently taken to self-hypnosis as a means to try and stop. It appears to be working so well, that I'm also having to work on skin-picking, now that I have long nails for probably the first time in 6 decades. There are quite a lot of books and online resources available to help with changing long-term habits, but so many that it is best for you to google it yourself and take your own pick. Giving up has probably also had an impact on my digestive system, but again I'm getting over it. I have also had some upswing of anxiety, but it appears to be manageable, with a whole host of different constructive displacement activities. I don't have any access here to hypnotherapists/therapists, and probably can't afford their services anyway, but sometimes you only  need two or three appointments to make a real difference. But I also reckon meditation, work concentration (hobbies) and mindfulness self-training would all help. The latter I haven't tried, but others find it effective.

i would think the polish craving is almost certainly a form of sensory seeking. I note that I rather enjoy such strong smells myself. And it is hazardous. I sort of reckon that my way of dealing with that (from decades back) was to get interested in other less strong, but more subtle smells, tastes, textures and sounds; probably in combination with the various ways to concentration listed above. I spent years working with various woods, and still actively seek out such smells. Most pleasant, and also motivational. If you have an interest in crafts and DIY. Go looking for a timber merchant where you can revel in such smells and do something constructive/creative at the same time. (But avoid anything to do with antique restoration or heavy wood treatments ;-) At home, develop an interest in aromatic teas and coffees. The same with fresh market produce. (I personally find some aromatherapy over the top but perhaps that is because I have the Mr Bean style aversion to strong perfumes. ;-) And an interest in rambling, seaside. woodlands, heaths and conservation might also have some added social benefits.

I have also completely done away with adding sugar to food, and always have drinks with no milk added. Natural tastes and smells are the best, but actually I also do not fancy living with diabetes. These things definitely enhance your sensory experience. I started doing many of these things when i was really quite young, so i suppose you might say that they are  long-term coping strategies. But frankly, i reckon the appreciation of such sensory stimuli is what has always stopped me from inescapable depression. These are things to savour that in some way replace some of the life 'givens' that I seem to find unattainable. On the other hand, they probably prevented others from realising that I could really could do with a bit of support.