Is there a name or mental disorder for constantly chewing plastic?
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An oral fixation (also oral craving) is a fixation in the oral stage of development and manifested by an obsession with stimulating the mouth (oral), first described by Sigmund Freud.
According to Freud, infants are naturally and adaptively in an oral stage, but if weaned too early or too late, there may be a subsequent failure to resolve the conflicts of this stage and to develop a maladaptive oral fixation. In later life, these people may constantly "hunger" for activities involving the mouth.
If a child was not fed enough (neglected) or was fed too much (over-protected), this may later create an oral fixation in that adult. It is believed that fixation in the oral stage can cause one of two things. If the child was underfed or neglected, he will become orally dependent, and obsessed with achieving oral stimulation which he was deprived of. He might learn to manipulate others to fulfill his needs rather than maturing to independence. The overly indulged child may resist growing up and try to return to that state of dependency through crying, acting helpless, demanding satisfaction, and being "needy."
Oral fixations are considered to contribute to over-eating, being overly talkative, smoking addictions, overindulging in peppermints or chewing on straws and alcoholism (known as "oral dependent" qualities). Other symptoms include a sarcastic or "biting" personality (known as "oral sadistic" qualities).
Critics of Freud's theories doubt that such a thing as "oral fixation" can explain adult behaviors, and that subscribing to this simplistic explanation can prevent the exploration of other possible causes that may occur. Even psychoanalytically oriented practitioners have broadened their understandings of fixations beyond simple stage theory.
*Hope this helps, but remember - Freud was a cocaine addict! :D*
OCD
hahha
it's an obsessive disorder. That's all.
Chew on a lot of wood, eh? ;)
I believe you might have a mild case of OCD(obsessive compulsive dissorder). It can manifest in many, many ways, including habits that are necessary to properly function through the day. You can see a psycologist, but I doubt it's anything to be seriously worried about.
I don't know what it means if humans chew plastic, but my cat will eat plastic bags so that she can throw up in front of me to get attention!
I don't think it's a disorder, but more of a nervious habit. I chew on my nails, pencils, wood (lol too!), and ...just stuff! Some people use food for their nerves, we use objects! Your not a freak, or are you and I am too??Nah! Nervious habit!
Look up "pica" or "pica-geophagy" It's a disorder where people constantly have the urge to chew on or eat non-food items.
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