[Rive1976]

So I was talking to my friend about her teenage daughter. She was telling me about how her daughter told her that when she was 8. She ate her poop and pee once and at 14 (current age)ate her discharge and ate her blood from her period. I have heard of Pica but I dont know if this could be mental?

Whatever the cause may be (infection, deficiency, stress, trauma, or genetic) has certainly affected her at at psychological level. It may not be brain malfunction (serious) but it certainly is psychological. That's my belief.

Extract :
The brain and nervous systems have been designed by evolution to be designed by experience and learning. This means there is no prototype for how brains function that map directly on to psychological level processes, like an American high schooler being rejected in love and feeling down about that

...
Some of these will involve suffering and maladaptive patterns that do require mental health assistance but are NOT in any way shape or form reducible to brain malfunction...

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So I was talking to my friend about her teenage daughter. She was telling me about how her daughter told her that when she was 8. She ate her poop and pee once and at 14 (current age)ate her discharge and ate her blood from her period. I have heard of Pica but I dont know if this could be mental?

if you google it you will find that its not a mental disorder....

in some locations its taught to do these things as survival tools to prevent dehydration and starvation

if you read the religious book the bible there are also many references to doing these things.

in some cultures doing this is also a rite of passage at certain ages

according to google its also pretty normal for children to do these things just to see what its like or as a dare or if they have watched any of these horror shows or reality shows like fear factor and others that require the contestants to eat such things.

ultimately we can not tell you what this is in your friends daughter, only your friends daughter and their own treatment providers can tell you that...

my suggestion is ask the daughter why she did that or leave the issue up to the daughter and the parent to solve.

[Rive1976]

Thanks. Are Einstein reincarnated? Lol thanks my friend

[*Laurie*]

What do you mean by "mental"?

[Deejay14]

I dont think this falls inside the brackets of normal behavior. At least where I live this would warrant a visit to the primary care doc where more I found would be shared and possibly follow up care of some sort.

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

What do you mean by "mental"?

I am wondering if its a mental disorder or what could of caused it. She said when she was 8 and drank her urine. She new it was bad. Felt anxious then did it. The eating of poop happened once as well. Just to see what it tasted like same with the discharge. With the menstrual blood she wanted to see what it tasted like but has done it twice because she liked the taste.

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So I was talking to my friend about her teenage daughter. She was telling me about how her daughter told her that when she was 8. She ate her poop and pee once and at 14 (current age)ate her discharge and ate her blood from her period. I have heard of Pica but I dont know if this could be mental?

That's definitely not normal behavior.She ate her poop and pee at age 8 ?Even little toddlers know to not do that,they know it's too disgusting.And at age 14 ate her discharge and her blood?This girl has definite psychological issues.I have no clue what they would be but yes,something's not right.

Did you tell your friend it's not normal?What does she think about it?

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by Betty_Banana

That's definitely not normal behavior.She ate her poop and pee at age 8 ?Even little toddlers know to not do that,they know it's too disgusting.And at age 14 ate her discharge and her blood?This girl has definite psychological issues.I have no clue what they would be but yes,something's not right.

Did you tell your friend it's not normal?What does she think about it?

She is concerned but at this point doesnt know whether to take her to a psych doctor or medical doctor.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Dnester

I am wondering if its a mental disorder or what could of caused it.

Oh. You mean a mental illness or a psychiatric disorder. "Mental" sounds like something from 1950, if you'll forgive me.

I think it's very odd that the child ate what she ate. True, she was young, but like Betty said, even a toddler will not eat its poop, etc.

Eating or spreading one's own feces on walls and floors and that kind of behavior in general is not an uncommon behavior for people who are severely psychotic. It is something nurses and doctors see in psychiatric hospitals not infrequently.

[Rive1976]

I was looking online and got very vague info that this might stem from sexual abuse, self cannibalism or pica. Not very helpful.

It's not always psychosis, it may anything ranging from stress to nervous disorder. Let me remind you Alzeheimer's (not in this context) is a neurological disorder.

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

if you google it you will find that its not a mental disorder....

in some locations its taught to do these things as survival tools to prevent dehydration and starvation

if you read the religious book the bible there are also many references to doing these things.

in some cultures doing this is also a rite of passage at certain ages

according to google its also pretty normal for children to do these things just to see what its like or as a dare or if they have watched any of these horror shows or reality shows like fear factor and others that require the contestants to eat such things.

ultimately we can not tell you what this is in your friends daughter, only your friends daughter and their own treatment providers can tell you that...

my suggestion is ask the daughter why she did that or leave the issue up to the daughter and the parent to solve.

From the info the OP has given this girl didn't do it as a survival tool,a religious practice,rite of passage or as a dare.This is 2018 and definitely not the norm or socially acceptable to be eating your poop,discharge or blood at any age.

[Betty_Banana]

Originally Posted by Dnester

She is concerned but at this point doesnt know whether to take her to a psych doctor or medical doctor.

I'm not sure which I would take a child of mine to either really.Maybe I would start with a medical doctor just to check everything physical and then get referrals to mental health providers.

[Rive1976]

So I have a therapist i see because of csa. I asked her today and she said. She probably was just curious about what it tasted like. Like it was nothing. I dont agree with that. Exspecially since she has eaten her blood twice.

I suggest her to take her to a psychiatrist if possible? Psychiatrists are perfect match of psychologists (those who study disorders of mind) and doctors (those who study disorders in general.)

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So I have a therapist i see because of csa. I asked her today and she said. She probably was just curious about what it tasted like. Like it was nothing. I dont agree with that. Exspecially since she has eaten her blood twice.

I definitely don't agree with that, either.

What's wrong with her being checked by a psychiatrist? I think a psychiatrist due to their medical background is able to be more helpful. Because it seems like a medical condition to me. Therapists are not trained to handle that.

[Rive1976]

I dont know it seems more mental to me. I found out she sucks her tampons.

[*Laurie*]

I am not sure what's going on, but whatever it is the girl sounds like she has problems that need to be addressed by a mental health professional.

I'm wondering why the mother keeps disclosing her daughter's behaviors to you. Do you know why?

[Rive1976]

Because we have been close a long time I guess and our children are only one year apart.

[*Laurie*]

Since her mother keeps talking to you about her daughter's behavior, do you think the mother is concerned?

[Rive1976]

Yes i do

[*Laurie*]

Will she take her daughter for an assessment?

[88Butterfly88]

Originally Posted by Dnester

So I have a therapist i see because of csa. I asked her today and she said. She probably was just curious about what it tasted like. Like it was nothing. I dont agree with that. Exspecially since she has eaten her blood twice.

I'm with you and Laurie, I don't think that's it. Personally I would think see a psychologist.