Many times, people will get into counseling due to anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or other feeding disorders. Eating disorders impact a lot of people. Someone may worry about food for two or three hours or more a day. Someone with a feeding or eating disorder it may have stress come anxiety, guilt, or self-hatred before or after eating. Well, pica is an eating and feeding disorder also. However, not as many people are aware of symptoms of pica in children and adults. In this article, you will learn about pica, a feeding disorder that often impacts children. Pica can also impact adults. Also, pica in children can be concerning for parents, caregivers, and siblings. It can be really scary realizing your child or your loved one has pica or an eating disorder.
Also, pica in children and adults can lead to digestive and nutritional deficiency problems.
What is pica, an eating disorder?
First off, pica is an eating disorder where a child or an adult tries to eat non-edible and non-nutritious foods. For instance, a child might be eating glue sticks at school. An adult with pica, a feeding disorder, maybe eating chalk. Someone with pica may have a deep compulsion or deep desire to continue eating non-nutritious substances. Working with a therapist can help pinpoint if the source of pica is trauma, anxiety, lack of supervision, or a compulsion. Therapy can help someone with pica learn how to stop eating nonnutritive substances. Many times, consuming these substances do not provide any nutritional value and lead to health issues. To note, each person with pica has a different non-nutritious item they try to consume eat.
To begin, use the button below to book your phone consultation to get help for your child’s eating disorder and pica today.
When someone has pica, what are non-nutritious items they will often try to eat and feed themselves?
Frequently, when a child or an adult has pica, they will eat items like soil, laundry detergent, foam, plastic, hair, string, or paper. Therefore, eating these items do not bring any nutritious value to their diet.
Frequently, people with pica may have negative impacts from eating these items. As well, children and adults with pica may have a history of trauma or PTSD, autism, or other mental health conditions. People with pica often have another mental health diagnosis as well.
Can pica in children and adult cause issues?
Unfortunately, when a child or an adult suffers from pica without therapy, they will often have nutritional deficiencies. A person may compulsively eat soil, string, soap, or glue and deprive themselves of protein, healthy fats, iron, and even fiber. When a person eats non-nutritious items due to having pica, they will often have nutritional issues because these items don’t have any.
Additionally, children and adults who eat nonnutritive substances may end up with diarrhea or gastrointestinal problems. So, if your child has unexplained stomach pain, take a look at their bowel movements to see if you can see any plastics or non-nutritious food. Take a careful observation as to what your child or a loved one is eating to ensure they are eating edible food.
How does having a child with pica, or if eating disorder, impact your family?
Now, not all members of a family will have an eating disorder or pica. Sometimes, a sibling might feel afraid if their sister or brother eats foods that are not edible. Parents may have their own fears and reach out to a pediatrician. It might be concerning to hear that your child’s teacher told you they have been eating non-edible food at school. You may feel worried that you’ve done something wrong or blame yourself. Family therapy can help you remove blame and create a pica treatment plan. Your child’s eating disorder therapist can step into your family system with confidence and educate you on pica. Also, you can learn about positive meal times and eating disorders. This way, you can be well informed and you can even educate your child’s school on pica.
How can you help if you have a loved one who is suffering from pica, an eating disorder and feeding disorder?
No, one of the most important parts of treating pica and recovering from pica is supervision. If your child has been eating glue at school, foam, glitter, or another non-nutritious substance, supervising them will help. When your a child begins to eat this non-nutritious item due to having pica, intervene. To start, replace the item with something safe, edible, and delicious. You could use an apple slice, treat, or have your child wear a necklace that they can chew on. Some children like the oral relief of chewing and eating and a chewy necklace may help.
Pica in children can be treated in counseling at Wisdom Within
How can working with a child and family counselor help within pica therapy?
Family therapy can help because eating disorders impact everyone in a family. Furthermore, when a child or an adult has pica, a feeding disorder, the whole family can come together to create more positive home environment. Any stress at home, domestic violence, fighting, yelling, or name-calling can create tension and anxiety. Any home stress or anger around food can cause pica symptoms to get worse. Reducing conflict at home, increasing meaningful connections, and improving parenting skills are great benefits of therapy for pica. As well, family counseling sessions can help all members of the family understand eating disorders and pica. Some family members may not understand eating disorders or might blame the person for having it.
In what ways can eating disorder therapy help pinpoint the source of pica and treat it?
Working with a child therapist an eating disorder specialist can help pinpoint the source of pica. Sometimes, a child develops pica do to trauma and PTSD. As well, working with a child therapist can help you determine if your child may have pica or an eating disorder due to autism. Also, your child’s therapist can help you understand ways to intervene and how to supervise. Additionally, positive supervision can help to reduce pica in your child. As well, parents may make the mistake of punishing their child for eating something non-nutritious. Instead, your child’s therapist can help you understand positive parenting and redirection. It is important to keep cleaning chemicals out of reach of children. So, use locks on cabinets to keep your children safe from eating now nutrition substances. If you have a child or a loved one who is suffering from pica, you are not alone.
How can therapy help pica in children?
The team at Wisdom Within Counseling loves helping children and adults who struggle with feeding and eating disorders. If your child or you struggle with pica, we can help treat your eating disorder. Pica in children Needs to be treated right away before it gets worse. We offer a mixture of art therapies, painting, mindfulness and Yoga Therapies, and holistic outlets. Children struggling with pica often need strategy is to learn how to cope with big feelings. Underneath the strange eating behaviors maybe emotions like anxiety, loss, betrayal, fear, or even anger. Pica in children Is a sign that your child needs help building positive, emotional coping strategies.
