39-year-old UK Woman, Addicted To Eating Cement And Bricks, Says 'It Is A Comfort Blanket'

Building a habit after doing something repeatedly is human nature. People around the world have different habits that turn into addictions. Sometimes the addiction is to eat something healthy, and sometimes it is to something that can harm the body in the long run. However, it is very rare to get addicted to eating sand and cement. A 39-year-old British woman became addicted to eating cement and sand, which shocked her husband too.

The woman named Patrice Benjamin Ramgoolam is addicted to sand, bricks and cement and calls it her “comfort blanket”. She built up the habit of earring sand, cement, and parts of bricks at the age of 18. Many people like to eat sweet food, while others prefer their food to be tangy and spicy. However, Patrice likes to have the unusual taste of sand, brick and mortar. As per reports, she keeps staring at the walls of the house and breaks the plaster to eat the materials inside the walls.

The husband of Patrice Benjamin Ramgoolam was also shocked to learn about the addiction of his wife. Patrice and her husband started dating as school friends, and they married each other later. At the beginning of their married life, Patrice hid this addiction from her husband.

When he found out about his wife’s addiction, he requested that Patrice quit the habit. However, Patrice could not give up the habit. According to her, eating pieces of bricks, cement, and plaster helps her become happy. The addiction is so strong that she cannot break her habit even after knowing that it is slowly harming her health.

According to the doctor, this type of addiction is called Pica. People suffering from this condition prefer to eat non-food items. Different people suffering from Pica build up addictions to eating different things that are not meant to be eaten. The doctor for Patrice advised her to quit the habit of eating cement or bricks and suggested medicines for the patient too. However, she continues her addiction even after her habit.

Patrice is aware of the implications of her habit of eating such things. The habit she built at the age of 18 has brought her to the point where she has failed to recover.