Woman who suffers from unusual disorder says eating cement is like a 'comfort blanket'
A woman who suffers from a rare disorder which causes her to crave cement and bricks has revealed eating the items is like a 'comfort blanket'.
Having a comfort food we turn to on a difficult day isn't anything out of the ordinary. For some of us this may be a bar of chocolate, while others might reach for their phone and order a takeaway.
However, for British woman Patrice Benjamin-Ramgoolam she finds comfort in the 'earthy' taste of items such as cement and bricks.
Yes, you did read that right.
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Revealing her experience with a rare disorder called Pica, Ramgoolam appeared on ITV show This Morning back in 2014, telling hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that she has been eating walls since she was about 18 years old.
According to the charity Beat Eating Disorders, Pica is a condition in which people will eat non-food substances such as 'paper, soap, paint, chalk, or ice' despite the items having no nutritional value.
It's not currently known why people develop Pica, however it can cause complications such as 'metal toxicity, cracked teeth, or infections.'
Sharing her experience, Ramgoolam - who was 28 at the time - explained that it was almost like a 'drug addiction' for her.
"It all started when I was 18 years old," she said, recalling a conversation with her grandma where she learnt that her auntie and uncle used to 'pick at the wall' - leading her to wonder what the wall 'tasted like'.
"One day I just got a knife, poked the wall and I tasted it, I liked it and that's where it all started," Ramgoolam said.
Explaining that bricks and cement taste 'earthy', she added that she was 'hooked' on eating them.
It's not known how prevalent Pica is as an eating disorder, however it can develop at any age. The condition is often linked to pregnancy, anaemia, developmental and mental health disorders.
Ramgoolam went on to explain that brick eating was a coping mechanism for her, adding: "Depression started at 18, tough upbringing. Bullying was going on and I eventually developed anxiety, that's sort of where it came from.
"Me eating the wall was like an escape."
Following her initial interview with This Morning, Ramgoolam, now 39, has since spoken to Closer about the condition, revealing that she doesn't know if she'd be able to break the habit.
"I'd like to be able to stop for my husband's sake, but I don't know if I can," she said, revealing that she'd often have to hide the holes in the walls from her husband, Calvin.
Ramgoolam went on to open up about the physical side effects caused by eating bricks, revealing she has chips in her teeth from eating the wall.
"I don't know if I'm ready to completely stop as it still triggers happiness inside me," she said.
"I just hope I don't end up seriously damaging my health."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article and would like to speak with someone in confidence, call the BEAT Eating Disorders helpline on 0808 801 0677. Helplines are open 365 days a year from 9am–8pm during the week, and 4pm–8pm on weekends and bank holidays. Alternatively, you can try the one-to-one webchat.
Topics: TV and Film, This Morning, Food And Drink
Brenna Cooper