5 Weird Things People are Actually Addicted Too

Addiction is a battle that nobody is exempt from fighting. It has the potential to touch nearly any aspect of your life, usually with unfavorable consequences. What we want to discuss today aren’t the type of habits that normally pop into your mind when you hear the word addiction. Not a man smoking a cigarette, a family mowing on fast food, or someone jittery from heroin withdrawal. We’re going to take a look at some strange addictions that might have you thinking, “Sweet mother of god people actually do that?”

1. Eating Dirt

When someone has the craving to eat something that isn’t a food item, it’s a condition called pica. One of the more common forms of this addiction is the urge to eat earthy matter like dirt and sand. This specific form of pica is referred to as geophagia. This addiction can come from a variety of ailments ranging from mental conditions like OCD to circumstantial ones like nutritional deficiencies. By depriving your body of the nutrients it craves, you are filling up space in your stomach while starving yourself at the same time. I might argue that it is a reasonable alternative to my grandmother’s cooking on thanksgiving however — even the dog wouldn’t eat the leftover casserole (the same dog that eats its own poop).

2. Hyalophagia

Hyalophagia is a form of pica that makes the addict want to eat glass. Some do it as a form of entertainment in traveling carnival acts but others are unfortunately born with the odd cravings. The show Strange Addiction follows a man named Josh, who in his peak was consuming glass 5 times every week.

Some serious side effects that result from this addiction include the slicing of your throat, stomach, and intestinal system as your body processes the shards of glass. Since your body is unable to digest glass effectively, it remains in your system for prolonged periods of time. This can eventually lead to serious waste buildup or a deadly infection.

3. Object Sexuality

Object sexuality is when someone can’t help but to cultivate romantic or intimate desires with objects that aren’t actually living things. While there are many people that have this, only a few cases are extreme enough to consider severely addicted. Of those few, well, things get a little weird. Objectophilia can be for virtually anything inanimate — be it a small personal possession or an entire mode of transportation.

One 28 year old service technician named Nathaniel is madly in love with his vehicle, a ‘98 Monte Carlo. He claims that he can’t go a full day without seeing it or he may get emotional to the point of crying. His personal — and sexual — relationship with the car has weirded his family out but they are slowly learning to accept the odd behavior. I wonder if there are any online dating sites specific to this kind of niche…

4. The Smell of Gasoline

There are many people that claim to enjoy the faint smell of gas when fueling up their car, but some take the enjoyment to the next level. What might start as a harmless enjoyment in a particular aroma can eventually get somebody hooked onto a dangerous intoxicative inhalant.

Gasoline gives off harmful vapors that enter your nose and travel through your body when you excessively smell it. On the show Strange Addiction, they tell the story of Theresa — a woman who has been smelling gasoline out of a small bottle for over 30 years. She occasionally has to get up in the middle of the night just to get her fix of the stench and has since developed memory loss, anemia, and serious stomach ailments from the harmful chemicals. In another episode, a girl named Shannon confesses that she goes as far as actually drinking gasoline. Someone should probably start gifting these people scented candles and take away their vehicles ASAP.

5. Body Modification

This is another addiction that can be good or bad depending on the severity of it. In general, body modification is altering your physical appearance, usually permanently, for the sake of looking different. The more socially acceptable methods are piercings, tattoos, and hair dye, heck I even have a few tattoos — but sometimes people take it to extreme levels…

There is a small adrenaline rush associated with doing things like tattoos that people can get hooked on. In more extreme cases, people have gone as far as self mutilation to search for the next big thrill. They’ll cut their tongues in half, cover their entire body in ink, and even have things implanted under their flesh to fulfill their addiction. Keep your eyes peeled for a body modification article on Strong Whispers in the near future to learn more.

What do you think about these strange addictions? Do you have any strange addictions yourself? Share your thoughts with a comment below!

Image Credits: alexraths/BigStock.com

Darlene Strand

In my early childhood, one of my younger brothers developed a craving to smell and eat modeling glue. Back in the late 50s the glue was used to put models together as a hobby. My father at that time, would buy several model kits each week for us kids to work on with him. It was ‘together time’ to spend a rainy day couped up in the house. Mostly, we did Military planes, ships, and jeeps of different branches of the Armed Forces. What was intended as a good hobby on my dad’s behalf became a serious concern of my younger brother, when our dad found my brother in bed asleep holding a tube of modeling glue. Devastated as a concerning and caring parent, our dad suspended any further hobby activities, that involved using glue. After I grew up and married, my babies, then aged 3 and 1 /half, we bought a house in Redondo Beach. Our neighbor on one side of us was an older lady who raised pretty birds on consignment with the local pet stores in the area. The middle aged woman babysat her grandson everyday . He was my three year old sons first little friend! Thinking it was okay, I would let him go over to play next door with the boy. sometimes the little boy would come over to our house and play outside or in the recreation room, we had set up for the kids to play, when they couldn’t go out. I seriously didn’t give it much thought at why the little boy wanted my son to play with him inside the garage at his grandmothers. Until one day. Several weeks later. I had a feeling, mom’s tune in…and I didn’t let my son go over on this given day when I told my son “No”, when he wanted to join his frienThe d next door in the closed garage. Disappointed the little boy went back to his grandmothers garage, and sniffed gasoline from his grandmothers car. Several hours later. I got a call from the little boys grandmother, asking me to send the little boy home, I told her, he wasn’t next door with us! Eventually, she thought to check her garage where she found him laying on the floor of the garage, blue not breathing. The grandmother screamed. I called the police and ambulance, trying to help! the gas top was removed and there was a thin layer of fumes. I am sure there are many more addictions people have. I try to curb my habit of chewing my nails!
Cat Weaver

erp! Typo in the headline!
zohaiba amir

Traveling can undoubtedly be enlightening and transformative. Here are seven crucial lessons that every traveler needs to keep in mind:

Embrace Flexibility: Weather, traffic delays, or other unforeseen events might cause travel plans to change at the last minute. You’ll be able to take advantage of any scenario if you can learn to adjust and maintain flexibility.

Respect Cultural Diversity: Each place has its own distinct culture, traditions, and customs. These must be approached with respect for the local way of life and an open mind. Before you travel, do some research and grasp the local customs to avoid unintentional offense.

Develop your patience when traveling because it’s common to have to wait for things like planes, meals, or tourist attractions. Being patient is a valuable ability that can help you feel less stressed and increase your enjoyment of your journey.
Keshav

Human behavior can sometimes lead to unusual and unexpected addictions. While these addictions may not be as widely recognized as substance addictions, they can still have a significant impact on a person’s life. Here are five weird things people have been known to be addicted to:

Eating Unusual Substances: Some individuals develop a condition called pica, where they crave and consume non-nutritive and often inedible substances. This can include things like dirt, chalk, clay, or even laundry detergent. Pica can be dangerous as it can lead to serious health problems.

Chewing Ice: Known as pagophagia, some people become addicted to chewing ice. This can be a sign of an iron deficiency, as chewing ice may temporarily relieve inflammation or discomfort in the mouth and throat.

Sunbathing and Tanning: A condition known as tanorexia involves an excessive and often dangerous addiction to tanning, whether through sunbathing or tanning beds. People with tanorexia may continually seek out sun exposure or tanning sessions to achieve and maintain a particular skin tone, despite the associated risks of skin cancer and premature aging.

Plastic Surgery: Some individuals become addicted to cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery, constantly seeking ways to alter their appearance. This condition is often referred to as “body dysmorphic disorder” or BDD, where the person perceives flaws in their appearance that may not be apparent to others.

Extreme Bodybuilding: While exercise is generally considered healthy, some individuals take bodybuilding and muscle development to the extreme, often using anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances. This obsession with gaining muscle mass can lead to a condition referred to as “bigorexia” or muscle dysmorphia, where individuals never feel satisfied with their level of muscularity and engage in risky behaviors to achieve their desired physique.

It’s essential to remember that addiction is a complex issue, and people may develop addictive behaviors related to a wide range of activities or substances. Seeking professional help and support is crucial for individuals struggling with any form of addiction, no matter how unusual it may seem.
Jot

It's great to hear that you've had such success with the weight loss product! However, be cautious with advertisements and always prioritize your health. As for strange addictions, everyone has their quirks, but it's important to distinguish between harmless habits and those that may be harmful. As for me, I don't have any addictions, strange or otherwise.