Does Chewing Ice Mean You’re Sexually Frustrated?

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Learn the true psychology behind an ice-chewing habit
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On October 13, 2013, the popular Facebook page FACT made a post that said “People who chew on ice are sexually frustrated.” Despite the “factual” name of this page, there’s no truth to this statement. While sexual frustration can manifest in different ways (e.g., poor mood, avoiding sex, etc.), chewing ice is not one of them. This habit can, however, have serious medical and dental implications. With the help of psychosexual therapist Jacqueline Hellyer, we’ll cover everything there is to know on both sexual frustration and ice chewing, so you can better understand why they aren’t connected.

What does chewing ice mean sexually?

Some people believe that chewing ice is a sign of sexual frustration, but this isn’t true. Sexual frustration is displayed in more concrete ways, like relationship struggles and sexual avoidance. Ice chewing is often a sign of medical issues (like anemia), not sexual ones.

Section 1 of 5:

Does chewing ice mean that you’re sexually frustrated?

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  1. This misconception stemmed from the well-known Facebook page FACT, which posted in 2013 that “People who chew on ice are sexually frustrated.” No sourcing or evidence was provided with the claim, and Facebook users in the comments were rightfully skeptical.
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Section 2 of 5:

Medical Causes for Ice Chewing

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  1. While ice chewing (medically known as “pagophagia”) has nothing to do with the health of your relationships, it can often be a symptom of iron-deficient anemia, a health condition where you have low hemoglobin levels. [1] Besides ice chewing, iron-deficiency anemia is defined by symptoms like tiredness, dizziness, headaches, and more. [2]
    • Ice chewing falls under the umbrella term of pica, a medical condition where people desire to eat (mostly) inedible things like paper, rocks, dirt, clay, chalk, and the like. [3]
    • The desire to chew and eat ice may also be connected to a calcium deficiency, although this is less common. [4]
  2. When experiencing a dry mouth, some people find that chewing ice helps relieve their dry mouth systems more efficiently than cool water. [5] If someone deals with dry mouth frequently, they might chew ice frequently to get rid of the sensation.
  3. Limited research suggests that compulsively chewing ice could be linked with psychological issues like depressive disorders. This research also implies that getting mental health treatment, like prescription medication and psychotherapy, can help a patient feel better and lower their desire to chew ice. [6]
    • In this research, the patient used pagophagia in response to their stress and poor moods.
    • Ice chewing may also be a sign of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It can also potentially signify a developmental disorder. [7]
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Section 3 of 5:

Complications of Pagophagia

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  1. Chewing on hard substances like ice can hurt your tooth enamel and potentially lead to cracks in your teeth. As you continue to chew ice, these cracks can get progressively worse and lead to serious issues, like tooth fractures. [8]
  2. Hyponatremia occurs when your blood’s sodium levels are diluted—it can develop when a person drinks too much water, or if they have a certain medical condition. People with hyponatremia often get very sick and can develop serious symptoms like seizures, confusion, muscle spasms, and even comas. [9] In rare cases, eating a large amount of ice per day can lead to hyponatremia. [10]
  3. When left untreated, anemia can lead to some pretty serious symptoms like heart issues. It can also contribute to unpleasant symptoms like frequent fatigue, restless legs, and headaches. [11]
    • Iron-deficiency anemia can also create serious issues if you’re pregnant.
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Section 4 of 5:

How to Stop Chewing Ice

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  1. Talk to your doctor about taking iron supplements . Visit your doctor and confirm that you have iron-deficiency anemia before taking iron pills independently. Your doctor can order blood tests and take a closer look at your blood cell count so they can confirm your diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan. [12]
    • In one study, researchers found that patients were most efficiently cured of pagophagia when they were given iron supplements. [13]
    • To increase your iron levels , it can help to add more iron-rich foods to your regular diet, like spinach, broccoli, shellfish, pork, whole-wheat bread, strawberries, figs, and more. [14]
    • If your anemia is caused by some type of internal bleeding (like hemorrhoids), your doctor may need to perform further tests to get the full picture.
  2. If you really enjoy the frigid feeling of ice, look for a chilly treat that’s less likely to hurt your teeth. Sucking on ice chips is a great alternative to chewing regular ice cubes, and sipping on a slushie can also be a refreshing replacement. [15]
  3. Gently chew on a piece of gum when you get the craving to chew ice. Try not to chew too aggressively, though, or you might still hurt your teeth in the process. [16]
    • Look for sugar-free gum that’s approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). [17]
  4. If you suspect that your ice-chewing habit could be connected to a mental health condition, look into local therapists who offer Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) services. [18] CBT aims to tackle and change the way your brain thinks, and provides healthier ways to cope with and process different challenges. [19]
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Section 5 of 5:

Signs of Sexual Frustration

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  1. When a person feels like their sexual needs aren’t being properly fulfilled, they might act a little more frustrated, upset, and sad in their day-to-day life. [20]
    • What to do : Clinical psychosexual therapist Jacqueline Hellyer suggests normalizing the conversation around sex with your partner. She explains how “a lot of people have this myth that sex should just happen, but this isn’t true. It’s important to present conversations about sex as a very normal part of life—so many people don’t actually speak about it.”
    • Did You Know? Sexual frustration is a common issue that can affect a lot of people—not just “incels” (involuntarily celibate individuals). [21]
  2. If someone feels like their partner can’t give them what they need sexually, they might be less interested in being intimate. [22]
    • Clinical psychosexual therapist Jacqueline Hellyer notes that “a lot of people think sex is just intercourse or getting off,” but this isn’t the case. She further explains how “sex is about connection, pleasure, intimacy, and feeling good about each other.”
    • What to do: Share your concerns with your partner if you feel like they’re being distant. Use “I” statements (“I feel lonely and confused when I don’t get to experience intimacy”) to express how you’re feeling rather than “you” statements (“You never want to get intimate anymore”), which tend to shift the blame to the other person. [23]
  3. In more extreme cases, a person might step outside of their relationship to receive sexual pleasure from a third party. They may do this because their current partner isn’t adequately meeting their sexual wants and needs. [24]
    • What to do: If you decide to move forward with the relationship, talk to your partner about meeting with a couple’s counselor. This way, you can focus on healing and moving forward. [25]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22824-iron-deficiency-anemia#symptoms-and-causes
      3. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pica.html
      4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3939500/
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4635104/
      6. ↑ https://www.turkpsikiyatri.com/PDF/C29S2/en/11TPD_17029_GROVER_pagophagia_P.pdf
      7. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/expert-answers/chewing-ice/faq-20057982
      8. ↑ https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/2023/06/love-chewing-ice-its-not-good-your-teeth
      9. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711
      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7384452/
      2. ↑ https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia
      3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351366
      4. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24850454/
      5. ↑ https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation/iron-rich-foods.html
      6. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chewing-ice-bad-for-teeth
      7. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chewing-ice-bad-for-teeth
      8. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/chewing-gum
      9. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chewing-ice-bad-for-teeth
      10. ↑ https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral
      11. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/sex/sexual-frustration-and-depression
      12. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047235221000854
      13. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/sex/sexual-frustration-and-depression
      14. ↑ https://www.bumc.bu.edu/facdev-medicine/files/2011/08/I-messages-handout.pdf
      15. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/sex/sexual-frustration-and-depression
      16. ↑ https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-cope-with-being-cheated-on
      17. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/chewing-ice-bad-for-teeth

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