In moments of tension and anxiety, Ângela, from “Bom Dia, Verônica”, tears off the buttons of her clothes and eats
The second season of the Brazilian series “Bom Dia, Veronica” is now available, bringing the actress Clear brown as Angela, a teenager who is sexually and psychologically abused by her father, played by Reynaldo Gianecchini. However, one detail stands out: whenever she is nervous or anxious, the character tears the buttons off his own clothes and eats.
The disorder has a name: allotriophagy. It is an eating disorder defined by the desire or habit to chew on things that are not food or have no nutritional value, such as oil, seeds, ice or sprouts, for example.
“It is very common that it happens in people with some cause of anxiety, but also in people with intellectual disabilities, autism or schizophrenia”, explains psychiatrist Daniel Bastos to the Land. Among the patients with this disorder there are also children and pregnant women.
According to the specialist, research shows that 20% of children seen in mental health clinics suffer from allotriophages, but it tends to decline after adolescence and it is very rare for it to continue in adults who have no intellectual disability.
The patient eats objects or foods with no nutritional value whenever he feels anxious or very tense, for no specific reason.
diagnosis and treatment
The diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist through interviews, after any nutritional deficiency has been ruled out. As for the cure, as there is no specific cure for the disorder, as it arises from another condition which, in fact, has the means to be cured. It is what doctors call “treatment through the underlying cause”. “If you’re autistic, it’s for antipsychotic medications. In the case of anxious people, anxiety medications, as well as follow-up with a psychologist and nutritionist,” Bastos exemplifies.
“The two cases I have handled in my career were for anxiety disorder. A patient ate raw rice and felt less anxious in doing so, but it was compulsive, “says the psychiatrist. He explains that, even though he knew that he was bad for his health, he kept the habit in moments of anxiety.
The other case Bastos dealt with in his career was a patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder. “She thought she was infected with bacteria. She was once hospitalized and ate the food there. Then she thought she was infected and ended up taking alcohol gel to try to clear her throat and stomach of bacteria.” , he reports.
The medical literature reports cases in which patients used to eat even flakes of paint from the wall, wood, egg shells and glue. “These are absolutely unusual things,” she says.
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
