Buzz
Addiction is the uncontrollable desire to repeat certain behaviors, regardless of their harmful effects. People are diverse in their likes, interests, and quirks. While some may crave adventure and travel, others prefer the comfort of staying indoors. Whether you're an introvert or an extrovert, we all coexist through our unique preferences. From the common addictions to substances like coffee and social media, to more unusual ones, addiction can show up in many forms. Mentioning your coffee habit might sound normal, but it can feel less awkward when you consider how strange some addictions can be.
Imagine someone admitting they're addicted to drinking their own urine. Or perhaps a person who would rather have a chunk of their brick wall than a pizza topped with locally grown pineapples. These are just a few examples of the bizarre addictions that some individuals develop. Here’s a list of some of the most outlandish addictions people have around the world.
10. Drinking Nail Polish
In a world filled with countless beverages, drinking nail polish is among the strangest! While it may sound bizarre, some individuals openly admit their addiction to consuming nail polish for various reasons. For example, Bertha drinks about five bottles of nail polish daily instead of opting for water or milkshakes. Others say the sensation they feel when drinking nail polish is akin to drinking warm milk, and they enjoy the unique feeling it leaves in their throats.
Allison, a YouTube content creator, openly admits to being addicted to drinking nail polish and stain remover. She consumes about seven gallons of these substances each week and has no plans to stop anytime soon. As you may already know, nail polish contains harmful chemicals and is not meant for human consumption.
9. Ice Cube Eating
People with unusual cravings often suffer from a condition known as pica. For example, those who have an addiction to eating ice cubes are said to experience a specific form of pica called pagophagia. Some people can't get through their day without a bucket of ice cubes. This habit is frequently linked to iron-deficiency anemia and can lead to various health complications.
When a patient, only referred to as 'Ice Eater,' went to the doctor complaining of stomach pains, the doctor found that she was anemic. It’s common for people with anemia to crave ice cubes. Although there is a medical explanation behind this addiction, it remains rare and, undeniably, strange.
8. Drinking Blood, Including Human!
We have strange, then there's the truly bizarre. Michele, a tattoo artist, falls into this latter category. After turning 19, she developed an intense craving for drinking animal blood. She starts each day with a glass to 'kick start' her morning. From meals to snacks, Michele finds ways to incorporate blood into her routine. And her favorite? Pig blood, which she claims has a saltier taste than cow blood. Who would have guessed?
It took some time for Michele's family to accept her peculiar addiction. But just when you think the story couldn't get any stranger, she reveals something even more shocking: she now drinks human blood whenever she can. She attributes this bizarre habit to a deep fascination with the act itself, not rooted in culture or beliefs—just an overwhelming craving.
7. Eating Soap and Washing Detergent
Tempest, a 19-year-old college student, is addicted to eating soap and detergent. In a YouTube video, she shares that this odd habit helps her cope with the stress of school and life. Her addiction developed gradually, starting with a simple craving for the scent of laundry soap and detergent.
Eventually, Tempest had a thought: 'If the scent of these products brings me peace on the outside, how much more could I feel on the inside if I consumed them?' She started by licking a pinch of laundry detergent. Over time, her cravings grew stronger, and she began eating handfuls. Before long, her addiction escalated, and she found herself consuming around 100 bars of soap each year.
Soap and detergents contain bleaching agents and chemicals that can cause serious harm if ingested. Luckily for Tempestt, she opened up about her addiction to her friends and family, who convinced her to seek medical help. Although she still enjoys the scent of these products, she successfully overcame her addiction to eating them and is in a better place now.
6. Snorting Baby Powder
Lisa Anderson, a 44-year-old woman, has an unusual addiction to sniffing Johnson’s baby powder. What began as a craving during pregnancy grew stronger after the birth of her child, and she soon started consuming it. Her dependence on the powder became so intense that she was going through a bottle a day at one point.
In addition to the financial strain caused by her addiction, Lisa also notes that she visits the bathroom about 40 times a day. This provides a glimpse into the harmful health effects that come with eating baby powder.
5. Eating Glass
Josh, a stand-up comedian, has developed a strange addiction to eating glass. He says the habit began after reading about it in a book. After trying it for the first time, he found it wasn’t so bad, and the urge to continue grew. As an entertainer, Josh noticed that the more he ate glass on stage, the more attention he garnered from the audience. Eventually, he moved on to swallowing bullets, which further fueled his need for attention.
In one of his videos, Josh claims to have swallowed over 30 bullets, enjoying the attention it brings. At this point, it's hard to say whether Josh's addiction is to glass and bullets or simply the attention he receives from performing such stunts.
4. Hair Pulling
Kelsie Hanna, a 30-year-old woman, wakes up every day with a strong compulsion to pull her hair. She describes the feeling as if one of her hair strands is filled with ants or needles that need to be removed. To find and remove the 'culprit,' she ends up pulling out several other strands.
Kelsie’s mother first discovered her daughter’s unusual habit when Kelsie was just five years old. She later found a trash can full of hair and realized the gravity of the situation. Since this disorder is rare, routine doctor visits and therapies haven’t helped much. Over time, Kelsie has learned to manage her condition. She has shaved the hair off most of her body, except for her head, and wears a wig whenever she goes out.
3. Eating a Dead Person
Most of us would agree that eating a dead person is beyond bizarre, but for Cassie, it’s part of her everyday life. She carries her late husband's ashes and consumes them in a potion whenever she can. Whether she's at the grocery store, a restaurant, or a shopping mall, Cassie refuses to leave her deceased spouse behind. She talks to him, prepares his favorite meals, and watches his favorite shows. To her, these are expressions of love, and she sees nothing wrong with them.
Cassie and her husband had been married for ten months before he tragically passed away from a severe asthma attack. Her unusual habit began one day when some of his ashes accidentally spilled onto her fingers. With no cloth to wipe them off, she decided to lick them clean. Little did she know, this would mark the start of a deeply unusual addiction.
2. Drinking Urine
While the health benefits of drinking one’s own urine remain widely debated, some individuals have adopted this practice despite the controversy. As scientific cures for their ailments were elusive, several people formed a group where they began drinking their own urine, hoping it would offer a solution. One member of the group shared that the practice helped him manage eczema on his hands, claiming he found a cure within himself.
One group member reveals she has been drinking her own urine since 1983. Not only does she consume it, but she also uses it to wash her face and cleanse her eyes. Many others in the group also soak their feet in urine, claiming it makes them feel 'lighter than air.'
1. Eating Clay Mask
Natasha, a 40-year-old woman from California, has developed an addiction to eating clay masks! She finds them delicious and believes they help her relax. For over seven years, she has been so hooked on these products that she occasionally substitutes meals with them or eats them alongside food. For Natasha, it's either food that caters to her obsession or nothing at all. She consumes up to one jar per day, and her loved ones are growing increasingly concerned. When she first shared the news with her boyfriend, he was shocked. Over the past seven years, Natasha has likely consumed over a ton of clay masks, but she's unfazed.
The addiction has started to affect her child as well, who now shows interest in doing the same. After her boyfriend’s request, Natasha visited a doctor, underwent x-rays, and took several tests. The results? She was fine. However, the doctor advised her to stop, warning that ingesting such products could lead to parasites that would negatively affect her health. Being addicted for nearly a decade, though, kicking the habit won’t be easy.
