or certifiable? Honestly? Or do lots of people do this?

[stiflersmom]

I have a sandpit (well, an oven tray full of sand) which I play with when I am stressed, or jut when I feel like it (usually in front of the tv in the evening)

I like to play with it dry for a bit, then add a bit of water and mix through so it goes all crumby and fluffy, then massage it in my hands until it is all dry again

If I don't have it I get CRAVINGS for it, seriously, like cigarette cravings

I need to smell it and scrunch it, for some reason

I am also craving snow, but I don't know how to make that so I just chew ice cubes instead

am I weird?

yes

oh

hell yes!

another yes from me too

really? I don't eat it!

it is a compulsion though, I can't explain it. It's like craving a cigarette.

I wonder why then?

What ever floats your boat. It sounds better for your health than drugs, alcoholism or binge eating!

Is this related to Pica?

Isn't pica where you eat stuff? I don't eat it, but I do crave smells quite powerfully (plaster dust, wet concrete etc) and can "need" something like that as much as one might need a drink or a fag

I am a bit strange though, my family think if I was at school today I would be dx with Aspergers

Is it bad? Will people think "oo-er" and back away if they find out about it IRL?

Yup, weird!

Some things are best kept to yourself you nutter.

However, I bet most people have some kind of habit or whatever that others would find weird. People are, generally speaking, kind of odd.

I'm glad you don't eat it. My last dog would eat out of DDs sandpit if we left it uncovered, and then shit bricks

Cravings in pregnancy are linked to vitamin/mineral deficiency (I think - someone will tell me if I'm wrong ), I know you don't eat it but maybe there's a link?????

mad but harmless.

Weird but endearing. :o

There was something on the radio the other day about a bloke getting real pleasure from writing on the sole of his slippers with a biro- I was so glad I wasn't the only one (until I heard him ostracised by his co-presenters)

Sounds like Pica to me! I have pica, I have urges to eat paper, cotton wool...and dust. It's gross, I know

Are you pregnant? I craved smells when I was pregnant, and also crunched ice cubes constantly. Apparently craving ice is a sign of anaemia.

Pica is when you eat stuff but smell is linked to taste isn't it? It could be distantly related.

Don't think it's a problem though. It's not doing you or anyone else any harm is it?

you can make a snow like substance by freezing the bubbles from washing up liquid or bubble bath.

you couldnt eat it all though obviously...

You are not strange.

No different than children playing with blanket tags. You are a very sensory person.

Enjoy

no, not pregnant - but I did crave ice and dust and strange things when I was

mineral deficiencies you say? would that apply to the needing to play with sand and wet/dry it repeatedly too?

I am glad it is seen as harmless, although bonkers!

you couldnt eat ANY of it actually, sorry an "all" snuck in there somewhere...

You know, when I was pregnant with DS2, I was once found on my knees, bottom in the air, smelling the freshly laid carpet in the midwifes clinic.

I had to make a detour into Allied Carpets daily. Just for the smell. Then one extremely hot day I recognized the smell in our car, and I realized it was the OILY component which was so intoxicating.

I got a brain wave, and went to Waitrose, and bought a pound of Kalamata olives. It helped! I snacked on olives the rest of my pregnancy, and did no longer need to sniff carpets and overheated hothouse cars.

OP, I dont think you are certifiable. You just need a holiday. Smart idea, recreating that relaxing holiday feeling in your living room!

can you do ?

Very normal, you just addicted to something that gives you pleasure. It could be a lot lot worse lol As long as it doesn't start to interfere with other areas of your life I think you should continue your habit if you want to. It's like me a wine I think

I keep craving and eating pork pies. Unfortunately I don't have pregnancy as an excuse.

I rather wish I could switch it to sandpit fixation!