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Compulsive Nose Picking (Rhinotillexomania)

Rachel , 11 Jan 2010

Mucus eating

I have been a very mild picker for as long as I can remember. I think its herediterary for the most part. My mother is a very strong picker and I have grown up watching her pick everything. Anyway, I have never really found my picking to interfere with my normal life. I pick scabs, acne, cuticles, and my nose, but never to the point of scarring or keeping a wound from healing. I do eat everything I pick though. I will also eat the occasional bit of ear wax or discharge from my nipples (normal waxy stuff, nothing abnormal) Im new to the forums, but Im wondering if anyone else is like me. The weirdest thing I do is I wear my underwear for a couple of days, build up a layer of normal vaginal discharge and then I pick that off my underwear and eat it after it dries. It tastes like boogers and is the same texture. I know this must not be sanitary and I have tried to stop, but if its there, Ill eat it. I just wonder if the eating of everything is related to a dietary issue. I do have a great deal of shame associated with this behavior and have never spoken of it to anyone.
94 Answers
kgs24
September 13, 2014

In reply to by Melanie

lol dont eat poop but do drink your urine and eat everything else your body produces because it strengthens your immune system and heals your body. primates pick and eat their ears, eyes and noses so it cant be wrong, it is nature
allmylife
December 19, 2013
OMG!!! I can't believe all of this. I swear, I am 55 years old and I thought I was the only one for so long. I'm going to read through all of the replies. Nobody admits to this. You are all so brave. I'll be back.
Picachew
February 06, 2014
Hi. I've been a picker and eater of a long long time. I used to pick my nose and eat it but I only do that once in a while. since I've developed eczema on my palms I love to let the blisters dry into round little scabs and I can peel little circles of skin from my palms. Because it has the dried serum fluid from the blisters in the center, chewing on it is so satisfying. It is the only thing I pick and chew consistently
lovemedd
March 08, 2014
rachel,i get you competly i even do the kinkers thing too. its never affected me . i pick and eat scabs,snot,discarge,warts,coldsores,dryskin pretty much anything i know if you ask someone on the street if they do this they'll say euk! no never. but everyone's done one of these thing's at one point in there life. but don't go over board girl . you don't want to hurt your self =]but, it's like eating nutella with a spoon you just can't help it. hope it helps, lovemedd =]
Zephyrlegend
March 14, 2014
Wow. I totally feel so much better about myself knowing I'm not alone. I am a nail biter and nose picker since before I can remember. I developed trich during my late teens after my first serious run in with depression/anxiety. I was diagnosed with ADD shortly thereafter. I bite nails when I'm bored or during "brain engaged, body off" activities like reading or watching movies. I like to chew and eat the skin as well as the nails. I love the taste of my boogers. They're salty and sweet. My trich is isolated to one spot on the right side of my scalp toward the back. I pull the hair and pick the spot. Sometimes I make it bleed so there will be a scab to pick off. I don't eat the scab but I love to examine it. I use sharp objects to pick at it sometimes. I also love sniffing my own feminine odor. Especially on freshly worn underwear. I haven't the faintest idea why I enjoy it so much. But I do. I also love to pick black heads. Black heads are so satisfying. I just collect a small pile of my pickings and stare at it. Admiring it.
hibib28
March 23, 2014
I would like to say to all of those who are looking to quit their picking habits. I hope this helps; your body has natural ways of removing pollutants, irritants, and toxins through body fluids and secretions. By picking and ingesting what is purposefully expelled means you are reintroducing these pollutants, toxins, and irritants back into your body. Nose mucus contains bacteria, pathogens, etc that your body is removing in order to keep you from getting sick. Whiteheads are bacteria, sebum, and dead white blood cells that are supposed to leave your body. I can't say the same for cuticles and nails BUT those things are natural barriers keeping out harmful and foreign bacteria and fungus. Next time you pick, just remember that you are turning against your natural system and could get yourself sick beyond belief. I wish you all the best of luck and getting yourself healthier. To those who say it is okay to taste what your body expels....you MAY be right. Usually though, you can sense something is wrong just by smell alone. Have a great day all
kgs24
September 13, 2014

In reply to by hibib28

then why do primates pick their ears and noses and eat it if it is harmful??? i will tell you why, because it is actually helpful and makes your immune system very strong i eat my bogies, ear wax, my hairs from my head and body that fall out which doesnt happen often, dead skin, the sleep out of my eyes in the morning, drink my own urine and if i have a cut i immediately lick the wound. eating these things helps our bodies decode the information to see if there is anything wrong with our bodies and then creates antibodies which come out in our urine which is why i drink it. only thing i dont eat are my poo and my sperm and i also eat my nails but only when they get too long
Girlpower2014
May 08, 2014
I read everyone post and I can say I used to pick on my nose, scabs, bite on my dead skin on my finger nails and eating them and lick under my nails from young age. I kept on doing it till my late 20s. With that I noticed I was always hungry and I notice in my poop a bacteria since my hands were always dirty and in my mouth. When I saw that I stopped entirely. I wash my hands constantly and hygeine freak. I read stories about bacteria that it can cause a lot of problems. Yes its a habit that nothing to be ashame of. But seeing something moving in ur poop made me think twice and completely stop.
Nads49
May 14, 2014
I eat my dog's scabs. I love the taste and can't wait til the sore heals a little bit so I can pick that salty blood taste. I love the texture too. No I'm not joking. Maybe I'm iron deficient - but I do love the taste.
Secret Girl
September 02, 2014
I read through all the posts on this particular thread and though I don't eat any of the things some of the people who have posted do, I have always had the habit of picking/biting the skin around my fingernails, frequently until they bleed. One time to the point where one of my fingers got infected, caused two trips to the ER and I nearly lost my finger because of it. However, I am not posting to discuss my own issues, but to give some peace of mind to those who do and for those who do not understand to open their minds. For those who eat their vaginal discharge, this is no different than a girl/guy performing cunnilingus on a female. And even some guys/girls will do this during menstruation. So for those who say it is disgusting, you obviously have not have a healthy or experimental sexual experience. This also goes for seminal fluid and even breast discharge. Who knows what a guy or gal is actually getting out of a nipple they are pleasuring during sexual acts? And this isn't much different from a guy/gal suckling their pregnant girlfriend/wife. And for those who eat boogers and mucus from their nose... EVERYONE IN THE WORLD does this. How do I know? Every time a person "sucks snot" when they are ill and swallows it instead of spitting it out, you are doing the same thing, only internally. You may not be picking your boogers/snot and eating them, but they are still in your mouth and going down your throat just like those who do pick and eat. Just like one of my friends once told me who also had a habit of picking/biting the skin around her fingers, "Our skin is the sweetest meat." I always thought that was the grossest thing I have ever heard, but when you think about it, skin doesn't have much of a taste at all unless it's sweaty, bleeding, or otherwise infected. Yes, these issues probably do stem from some sort of mental illness, however nearly all of the population in the entire world suffers from sort of mental illness, no matter how mild or severe. But as you all have seen, you are not alone in this battle, and though society does tend to shame those who participate in these types of behaviors (and pretty much any type of behavior society cannot understand or is willing to admit they participate in themselves), when you have to hide what you do or become ashamed to do it, then you are ready to seek help for it. Like I have told my own son who picks and eats his boogers, if you have to hide it, then you know it's wrong. However, being wrong and being ready to get help does not necessarily mean it is easy. If you want to stop bad enough, you will do everything in your power to make it happen. Otherwise, take heart in knowing everyone in the world has at least one disgusting habit (disgusting by societal standards) that they either admit to doing or hide from the world. You are not alone.
kgs24
September 13, 2014
It is completely normal to consume anything that our bodies produce except for your poop. Primates eat the products of their ears, eyes and nose which proves it is natures way. I eat my bogies, ear wax, the sleep out of my eyes in the morning, I lick any wound and consume any blood from it, I eat my nails but only when they get too long, I eat my hairs from my head and body that fall out but that doesnt happen often, I eat my dead or hard dried skin sometimes, I have tried my sperm, I try not too bite the skin in my mouth, around my nails or my lips because it makes them sore, I have eaten blackheads and whitheads but when it comes to that I am more of a squeezer than a picker, Ihave eaten my scabs when I was younger but now I rarely get cuts or scrapes but when I do I urinate on them to heal them faster. And lastly I drink my own urine because it keeps my immune system strong and my skin healthy, Ieven wash my entire body in my urine first thing in the morning and now I dont have any spots to pop and eat lol the urine sermed to clear my skin up. your urine is the fountain of youth, it has been used to cure cancer, arthritis in fact every disease known because our bodies produce antibodies when their is something wrong inside or outside of us so in effect our bodies produce our own medicine and cures. remember urine is not a waste product and urine is in fact our blood which is distilled water filtered and purified by our kidneys to give us a golden drink of pure vitamins and everything we need gor a strong healthy body
appricot
October 27, 2014

my husband, 34 years old, is a picker/eater.

I realized my husband is a picker/eater, on the first day of our honeymoon. It was early morning (thats when he does it the most), we were on a bus and very happy and excited. He sneezed, i turned towards him to and say “bless you” , then i see him liking his palm after sneezing into it. I spun around so quickly, i didn’t believe my eyes. So for the next 10 days, i kept a close look on his, to prove i was wrong, but guess i am never wrong (just kidding).

Before getting married, we lived in together for few months but i never realized about this habit of his at that time. We did long distance for a two years, married for more than a year but finally together for just 3 months now. It has been the most amazing 3 months of my life. But at the same time, i am more exposed to this habit of his. I wonder how he kept it as a secret when we were dating and its not so anymore.

I think he knows by now that i know, coz few times after he had sneezed, i would offer tissue papers or if he sees that i am more attentive, he doesn’t eat his mucus after picking it. He bites his fingernails, pick toenails and eats it. Well, i guess would he pick everything on his body and eat it. But he is clean shaved and doesn’t have acne and stuffs.

I havent talked to him regarding this habit of his, but i really wanted to talk to someone. He is very smart, sexy and very nice guy, everyone in his circle loves him. He has a very healthy social life. So, every time i see him pick/eat his nose i used to be very confused, coz i believed he must know what he is doing and that its not really socially acceptable.

But i am not really disgusted by it anymore. The more i see him do it, i kinda get used to it. I really do love him and i am trying to accept him as he is. Also, I pick my nose too (don’t eat it though) and i must have bitten my nails as a teenager. I really don’t think it might harm him physically (except bad looking fingernails), there are way worse stuffs in our atmosphere that might harm you more. Therefore i try to give him his personal time in mornings.

I won’t lie, it is really annoying if someone is constantly biting his/her nails while sitting beside you or is picking and licking their fingers. Especially when you are out with his friends, and we are all drinking and talking. My husband will be having conversations but also constantly keeps biting his nails. I get really embarrassed, i get this weird feelings thats his whole family and friends thinks its my duty to make him stop it.

I really want to talk to him regarding this habit of his . But i think i will end up embarrassing and hurting him. He is a passive aggressive person, who have zero confrontational skills, and i am pretty much the same. But i am sure i will be here to talk/help/support him if he ever wants to open up.

And i really want to thank you all for sharing your story. I now see that he is not alone. I hope i can share this forum with him someday, coz i really don’t know if he feels shame, depressed, guilty by this habit of his. And i don’t want him to feel that way. And to everyone else.

There has been just a small change after the realization of my husband’s habit. We do less and less of intimate long kisses, and thats perfectly fine. Coz, he gives me more heads (lol)

P.S.: would really like to read stories from their partners side and how theory deal with it. Thanks.

niteowl
August 18, 2015

What causes us to do this, my thing is scabs eye boogers and mucus never discharge or blood i have tried ear wax but not a big fan. I always wondered what was wrong with me,so today i decided to go online and wala here are others like me. I'm not alone. I still wonder where did this obsession come from??? If anyone has answers please advise. Oh and my nails use to be bloody and painful so i kept putting on acrylic nails until one day i noticed my nails grow fast but very thin. i decided to start polishing them every night. My mom has long and beautiful nails and she said take off the polish every night and put on a new coat. I did and finally my nails are growing and are getting stronger. plus I take hair nails and skin tablets. Oh and Knox can be put into your coffee every day and stir with a plastic spoon not metal spoon and drink it hardens your nails. good luck and thank you all for sharing.

ConcernedMother
September 09, 2016

Thank you all for sharing. Have any of you actually gotten a diagnosis or received therapy for this? I am here because I adopted a child a year ago. I noticed early on that she was eats her boogers. No big deal, lots of children do. Then I learned that she was not only gnawing off and eating her fingernails, but also her toenails. Scabs... Just found out she is eating her vaginal discharge as well. I am so worried about her. I can't sleep. Can any of you offer any advise to help her? She's 8. Did you start as a child? Is this anxiety? OCD? Sexual dysfunction of some kind? Thank you for any kind responses.

Sophiekk
March 24, 2017

I do this too but has anyone ever gotten sick from It? Like I do it as if it's normal

Purple shadow
October 16, 2017

I can’t believe I’m not the only one doing this, I’ve been picking and eating my mucus since I can remember, at one point I told my therapist about it because I wanted to stop and I needed help. I did stop for a couple of years but went back. I never do it in front of people. If I don’t wanna eat it I will smear it on the wall or something. One thing I didn’t see anyone mention is eating mucus from your eyes. I like the salty taste and the harder the better. My nose and eyes is the only things I pick and eat. I do pick scabs off my skin but I don’t eat it.

Purple shadow
October 16, 2017

Sophiekk, I actually read somewhere that it’s actually good for your immune system. Maybe that’s why I don’t get sick often

Discharge licker
March 11, 2018

Well, I don't lick my own scabs or eat my boggers or any of that, but I lick my girlfriend's panties and pick the crust off of them any time I can. I also go through her friends laundry and do the same. It's a huge turn on and high to me.

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