Meet the Woman Who Is Addicted to Eating Soap and Laundry Detergent

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Tempestt Henderson from Florida has a very bad addiction. The 19-year-old eats soap and detergent every day. This compulsion could turn deadly doctors claim.

See video at the end

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Henderson claims to go through five bars of soap a week because of her addiction.

eating soap

She explains her habit, saying, “I dabbed the powder onto my tongue and it tasted so sweet, and salty. It just felt so right. I was hooked straight away.”

The nursing student knows that eating soap is dangerous, but she ignored the warning labels and continued with her strange behavior. She progressed to eating the soap bubbles in the shower. She explains the process, saying, “In the shower, I like to lather up a green bar of soap and lick the bubbles. And as the soap disintegrates, I pop a tiny amount of the soap into my mouth and suck it. It’s heavenly.”

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Henderson has been diagnosed with a rare disorder called PICA. PICA is characterized by eating substances that are not normally consumed. She says that eating soap gives her a clean feeling.

Six months after she began her habit, Henderson sought medical advice.

People suffering from PICA have been known to eat batteries, chalk, coins, and metal. It can be caused by a mineral deficiency, much like the cravings a pregnant woman has. Doctors believe that Henderson’s condition was brought on by stress.

Her boyfriend broke up with her and then moved away for college. She wanted to try a long-distance relationship, but he refused. She was crushed by his decision.

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