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I'M ADDICTED TO EATING DEODORANT.
I NEED IT EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY.
MY BRAIN IS TELLING ME, "YOU HAVE TO EAT IT."
THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.
Zhakia: SHE'S KILLING HERSELF.
"IF SWALLOWED, CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER RIGHT AWAY."
THIS CAN LITERALLY BE LIFE AND DEATH FOR HER.
I WANT TO STOP, BUT I CAN'T.
I AM ADDICTED TO MY STUFFED LAMB.
YAY!
I TAKE IT WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO.
IT'S LIKE A MAGICAL CREATURE.
WHY CAN'T SHE CONNECT TO A HUMAN BEING LIKE THAT?
IT'S TIME FOR THIS TO STOP.
Audrey: WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME THAT I CAN'T HAVE THIS OBJECT?
IF YOU WANT A NORMAL LIFE,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO QUIT THE LAMB.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT IT.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Nicole: I CAN'T STOP IT.
MY BRAIN IS TELLING ME, "YOU HAVE TO EAT IT.
YOU HAVE TO EAT IT."
IT TAKES OVER ME, AND I CANNOT CONTROL IT AT ALL.
MY NAME IS NICOLE. I'M 19 YEARS OLD.
I LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY.
AND I'M ADDICTED TO EATING DEODORANT.
MY LIFE REVOLVES AROUND EATING DEODORANT.
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I WANT DEODORANT.
AFTER EACH MEAL, I WANT DEODORANT.
WHEN I'M STRESSED OUT, I EAT DEODORANT.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, I WAKE UP OUT OF MY SLEEP --
I WANT DEODORANT.
Narrator: NICOLE FIRST HAD THE URGE TO TASTE DEODORANT
WHEN SHE WAS JUST 4 YEARS OLD.
BUT TWO YEARS AGO, HER OCCASIONAL CRAVINGS
TURNED INTO A FULL-BLOWN ADDICTION.
NOW SHE EATS A HALF A STICK OF DEODORANT EVERY DAY.
Nicole: IT'S REALLY SOFT.
IT FEELS LIKE IT MELTS IN MY MOUTH.
IT HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE TASTE.
MY MOUTH GETS REALLY DRY,
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, MY MOUTH IS STILL WATERING
BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I'M CRAVING.
I TAKE DEODORANT WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO
BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN I'M GONNA CRAVE IT.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE DAY
WITHOUT HAVING MY DEODORANT.
THE FIRST TIME I SAW NICOLE EAT DEODORANT,
SHE BIT A CHUNK OUT OF IT.
I WAS JUST SHOCKED, LIKE,
"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE EATING DEODORANT."
Nicole: I'LL TAKE THE CAP,
AND I'LL, LIKE, SCOOP IT LIKE IT'S A SPOON.
AND I CHEW IT, SWALLOW IT.
I DO LIKE SPECIFIC BRANDS OF DEODORANT.
THE ONES THAT I BUY IS RICHER IN TASTING.
[ CASH REGISTER BEEPING ]
Narrator: BUT DEODORANT STICKS AREN'T THE ONLY WAY
NICOLE SATISFIES HER ADDICTION.
I LIKE THE SPRAY BETTER
BECAUSE THE RESIDUE DOESN'T GET SUCK ON MY TEETH
AND IT ABSORBS INTO MY MOUTH REALLY FAST.
THE FIRST TIME I DID IT, IT MADE MY TONGUE REALLY NUMB
FOR A COUPLE HOURS,
BUT I JUST LOVE THE TASTE.
Narrator: NICOLE'S SO HOOKED, SHE NEEDS DEODORANT WITH HER 24-7.
Nicole: WHEN I REALIZE I'M OUT OF DEODORANT, I START TO PANIC.
MY ANXIETY GOES CRAZY.
LIKE, MY HEART WILL BEAT REALLY FAST.
I GET VERY, VERY AGGRAVATED. I JUST NEED IT.
AND, WITHOUT IT, I WILL BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON.
Jayquan: I'M WORRIED ABOUT NICOLE'S HEALTH.
THERE'S CHEMICALS IN IT THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INGESTED.
MY HOPE IS TO GET HER HELP THAT SHE CAN STOP COMPLETELY.
Nicole: I HAVE TRIED QUITTING BEFORE.
I TRIED FOR A WEEK, AND IT JUST WAS A DISASTER.
I WOULD GET HEADACHES. I WOULD GET REALLY CRANKY.
IT JUST MADE ME WANT THE DEODORANT MORE.
I AM SCARED FOR MY LIFE
BECAUSE IT MAKES MY STOMACH HURT REALLY BAD OR I'LL THROW UP.
BUT I JUST KEEP EATING MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
I REALLY DO WANT TO STOP, BUT I JUST CAN'T.
MY NAME IS AUDREY. I'M 27 YEARS OLD.
I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
AND I AM ADDICTED TO MY STUFFED LAMB.
YAY. [ CHUCKLES ]
"'SHUDDER, CLANK, WHOOSH,' WENT THE PLANE."
MMM. DO YOU WANT MORE?
Narrator: FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
AUDREY HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO HER STUFFED LAMB.
SINCE RECEIVING THE PLUSH TOY AS A GIFT,
THE TWO HAVE BEEN CONSTANT COMPANIONS.
Audrey: THE LAMB IS MY BEST FRIEND.
I TAKE IT WITH ME EVERYWHERE I GO.
HE IS REALLY JUST CAREFREE AND ADVENTUROUS AND AWESOME.
THE LAMB LOVES TO BE OUTDOORS. IT REALLY LIKES THE SUNSHINE.
I REALLY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM THIS WAY.
AUDREY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAMB IS STRANGE.
SHE'S IN HER 20s, AND SHE'S GOT A STUFFED ANIMAL
THAT SHE WANTS TO TAKE AROUND.
Narrator: LIKE MOST CHILDREN,
AUDREY LOVED TO PLAY WITH STUFFED ANIMALS
WHEN SHE WAS YOUNG,
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE MET THE LAMB
THAT SHE FELT AN INSEPARABLE BOND.
THE LAMB JUST SORT OF SPOKE SOMETHING TO ME
THAT NO OTHER STUFFED ANIMAL EVER HAS BEFORE.
I THINK THE LAMB AND I SHARE A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION.
WHEN I AM LOOKING INTO THE LAMB'S EYES,
I FEEL A SENSE OF COMFORT AND PEACE.
I CAN JUST FEEL ALL THE STRESS FLOATING UP AND AWAY.
HE IS ALMOST LIKE A CHILD OF MINE.
I DEFINITELY WANT THE LAMB TO FEEL LIKE IT'S LOVED,
AND I AM A GOOD PROVIDER FOR IT.
I MAKE SURE IT STAYS WARM AND CLEAN.
IF THERE'S A SCARY MOVIE,
I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS GUARDED FROM THAT.
IT'S OKAY.
IF THE LAMB GOT A TEAR IN IT OR GOT HURT, I WOULD JUST PANIC.
THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT.
NOTHING ELSE CAN REALLY GIVE ME THE FEELING
THAT THE LAMB GIVES ME.
Narrator: TWO YEARS AGO,
AUDREY EXPERIENCED EVERY MOTHER'S WORST NIGHTMARE --
THE LAMB WENT MISSING.
I DID PUT UP SIGNS THAT SAID "MISSING LAMB"
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS GONE.
Narrator: AFTER A MONTH OF PANIC,
A FRIEND FESSED UP TO STEALING THE LAMB
AND GAVE IT BACK.
Audrey: IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY DEVASTATING FOR ME TO DEAL WITH.
WITHOUT THE LAMB, I WOULD GO INTO THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL
OR, LIKE, FALL INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.
SHE MIGHT REALLY BE CUTTING HERSELF OFF
FROM A LOT OF THE BONDS THAT SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE
WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.
Audrey: I DON'T SEE IT AS A PROBLEM.
IT'S JUST A LAMB,
AND IT'S NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING TO HARM ME.
Narrator: AUDREY HAS EVEN SACRIFICED RELATIONSHIPS FOR THE LAMB.
HE WANTED ME TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HIM OR THE LAMB.
I PICKED THE LAMB.
COULDN'T SHE BE USING THAT KIND OF LOVE
ON A GOOD FRIEND OR HERSELF?
WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO WASTE ALL THAT GOOD STUFF
ON THIS STUFFED ANIMAL?
WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME THAT I CAN'T HAVE THIS OBJECT?
THE LAMB IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME HAPPY, AND I REALLY LOVE IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT IT.
Narrator: COMING UP...AUDREY REVEALS HER SHOCKING RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S LIKE A MAGICAL CREATURE.
AND CAN A FRIEND CONVINCE NICOLE TO END HER DEADLY ADDICTION?
"IF SWALLOWED, CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER RIGHT AWAY."
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD NICOLE HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO EATING DEODORANT
FOR TWO YEARS.
SHE CRAVES IT 24-7
AND CAN GO THROUGH A HALF A STICK IN A SITTING.
BUT HER BEST FRIEND, ZHAKIA, IS TERRIFIED NICOLE'S ADDICTION
IS CAUSING LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEMS.
I FEEL THAT, AT THIS POINT, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,
AND I'M GOING TO HELP HER STOP EATING HER DEODORANT.
AND I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP UNTIL SHE STOPS.
THAT IS JUST RIDICULOUS.
I'M NOT GONNA WATCH YOU EAT THAT.
Nicole: IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
THAT IT'S WRONG.
I WANT TO STOP, BUT I CAN'T.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA READ TO YOU
WHAT IT SAYS ON THE BACK OF HERE.
"IF SWALLOWED, GET MEDICAL HELP
OR CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER RIGHT AWAY."
SO, BASICALLY, YOU'RE REALLY KILLING YOURSELF,
AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT YOU STOPPED EATING DEODORANT.
I ALREADY TRIED STOPPING TWO TIMES,
AND I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
IT GIVES ME HEADACHES. IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK.
THAT'S 'CAUSE YOUR BODY CRAVES IT.
TRY TO GO, LIKE, A WEEK WITHOUT EATING DEODORANT.
LIKE, SAY --
I DID.
IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME
THAT EVERYBODY THINKS I'M SELFISH
AND I'M DOING IT ON PURPOSE,
BUT I'M NOT.
Nicole: PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT I CAN'T STOP DOING IT,
JUST LIKE A PERSON THAT'S ON DRUGS.
I WISH DEODORANT DID NOT TAKE OVER MY LIFE,
BUT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
Narrator: FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS,
AUDREY HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO HER STUFFED LAMB.
SHE FEELS A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE PLUSH TOY
AND TREATS THE LAMB LIKE HER CHILD.
I AM THE ONE THAT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE LAMB IS SAFE
AND STAYS HAPPY AND WELL-RESTED.
Narrator: UNTIL NOW, AUDREY HAS KEPT HER BOND WITH THE LAMB A SECRET
FROM MOST PEOPLE,
BUT TODAY SHE'S FINALLY READY TO OPEN UP
TO HER BEST FRIEND, LINDSAY.
Audrey: THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GET OFF MY CHEST
FOR A REALLY LONG TIME
SO I WON'T FEEL LIKE I'M HIDING SOMETHING
FROM OUR FRIENDSHIP ANYMORE.
YEAH, SO, I BROUGHT THIS WITH ME TODAY
BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
IT'S MY STUFFED LAMB.
OKAY. SO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
LIKE...?
IT'S LIKE A MAGICAL CREATURE.
IT HAS EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS AND...
SO -- SO, THIS IS LIKE A PERSON OR...?
YEAH. IT HAS A LOT MORE MEANING TO ME
THAN JUST BEING A STUFFED ANIMAL.
IT ALWAYS IS WILLING TO LEND A LISTENING EAR.
AND IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, I NEED TO HAVE MY LAMB
BECAUSE, OTHERWISE, I'M JUST GONNA PANIC AND FREAK OUT.
Lindsay: THE LAMB DOES CONCERN ME.
WHY CAN'T SHE CONNECT TO A HUMAN BEING LIKE THAT
VERSUS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T TALK BACK TO HER?
AS AN ADULT WOMAN,
DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HEALTHY?
IT'S LIKE YOUR DEPENDING ON THE LAMB
INSTEAD OF, LIKE, PEOPLE.
UM...
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT ANYMORE...
I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD REPLACE IT,
'CAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE NOTHING WOULD EVER BE
WHAT THE LAMB IS TO ME.
IMAGINING MYSELF WITHOUT THE LAMB IS HARD
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN THERE WITH ME THROUGH REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD USE OR TURN TO WITHOUT IT.
Narrator: COMING UP...AUDREY'S SISTER THREATENS TO TAKE AWAY THE LAMB.
YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT.
I REALLY, REALLY NEED THAT LAMB.
AND CAN NICOLE'S BOYFRIEND FINALLY GET THROUGH TO HER?
YOU KEEP EATING THIS DEODORANT,
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS LOSING YOU.
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD NICOLE HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO EATING DEODORANT
FOR TWO YEARS.
SHE'S SO HOOKED, SHE CONSUMES 15 STICKS OF DEODORANT EVERY MONTH.
BUT HER BOYFRIEND, JAYQUAN, IS SCARED FOR HER HEALTH.
WHILE AT THE MOVIES, HE PLANS ON CONFRONTING NICOLE
ABOUT HER ADDICTION.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT SHE COULD SAY
THAT WOULD JUSTIFY WHAT SHE'S DOING.
IT'S STILL A CHOICE THAT YOU MAKE.
IF YOU GOT TIME TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DO IT,
THEN YOU HAVE WILLPOWER TO STOP.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU EATING DEODORANT.
SOMETIMES I GET CRAVINGS, AND THEY'LL BE VERY STRONG.
IF I DIDN'T GET THIS DEODORANT JUST NOW,
I'LL GET HEADACHES.
I JUST WANT YOU TO STOP BECAUSE THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.
IT'S LIKE THE DEODORANT HAS MORE CONTROL OVER ME
THAN I HAVE OVER MYSELF.
I WANT TO STOP, BUT I CAN'T.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STOP,
HOW ABOUT YOU SEE A DOCTOR SO YOU CAN KNOW
WHAT THIS DEODORANT IS DOING TO YOUR BODY?
YOU'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT YOU GOT A HEADACHE.
I JUST HAVE THOSE VERY FEW SYMPTOMS.
LIKE, I DON'T SEE NOTHING DRAMATIC CHANGING.
YOU MAY NOT SEE IT ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'LL BE COMPLAINING ABOUT
IS NOT NORMAL.
YOU KEEP EATING THIS DEODORANT,
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS LOSING YOU.
I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH
FOR ME TO ALLOW YOU TO DO THIS TO YOURSELF.
OUT OF YOUR CONCERN AND WORRY,
I WILL GO SEE THE DOCTOR TO TRY TO GET HELP.
I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THAT I'M GONNA STOP
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHAT MY BODY IS GONNA TELL ME TO DO.
WE GOT TO MAKE THAT DOCTOR TRIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Nicole: I HOPE THE DOCTOR REALLY CAN HELP ME
'CAUSE I'VE TRIED ALMOST EVERYTHING
TO STOP EATING DEODORANT,
BUT IT JUST HASN'T WORKED.
Narrator: AUDREY HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO HER STUFFED LAMB
FOR OVER FIVE YEARS
AND CONSIDERS THE PLUSH TOY TO BE HER BEST FRIEND.
BUT HER SISTER IS WORRIED
AUDREY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAMB
IS BEGINNING TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL
AND WANTS AUDREY TO GET HELP.
I'M GROWING MORE AND MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT HOW DEEP THIS DEPENDENCY IS.
I THINK THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR HER
TO REALLY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS?
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
LET'S JUST START SMALL -- LIKE, ONE DAY WITHOUT THE LAMB.
YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT SUDDENLY.
I REALLY NEED THAT LAMB.
EVERY TIME I'M NERVOUS OR IF I HAVE ANXIETY,
I JUST RELY ON THE LAMB.
I KNOW THAT IT HELPS YOU,
BUT YOU PUT ALL YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR FOCUS ON THE LAMB,
AND YOU'RE PUSHING PEOPLE AWAY.
I DON'T SEE IT AS BEING THAT DRAMATIC.
YOU MAY NOT KEEP YOUR FRIENDS. YOU MAY NOT GET A BOYFRIEND.
IS THIS LAMB REALLY WORTH LOSING ALL THOSE THINGS?
SHE COULD GET SO MUCH MORE OUT OF PEOPLE
IF SHE JUST KIND OF LET GO OF THE LAMB,
BUT SHE'S CLOSING HERSELF OFF
TO FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE ME SO MUCH GRIEF
OVER THIS LAMB.
BECAUSE I'M KIND OF STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT YOU.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS TO STOP.
CAN YOU AT LEAST START TO TRY TO ADDRESS THIS?
LIKE, WHAT IF -- WHAT IF YOU SAW A THERAPIST?
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT READY FOR IT TO JUST NOT BE A PART OF MY LIFE.
SHE JUST DOESN'T GET MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE LAMB AT ALL.
HOW CAN MY LIFE POSSIBLY BE BETTER WITHOUT THE LAMB?
Narrator: COMING UP...
HAS NICOLE'S ADDICTION ALREADY CAUSED IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE?
IT CAN EVEN PROGRESS TO DEMENTIA
AND EVEN AN ALZHEIMER'S-TYPE PICTURE.
AND WILL AUDREY TAKE HER SISTER'S ADVICE?
Narrator: AUDREY HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO HER STUFFED LAMB
FOR FIVE YEARS,
SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THE PLUSH TOY
THAN ANY PERSON IN HER LIFE.
BUT AUDREY'S SISTER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH
AND HAS BEGGED HER TO SEE A THERAPIST.
Audrey: I'M NOT THRILLED ABOUT GOING TO SEE A THERAPIST.
I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING BEING FORCED UPON ME.
BUT I'LL DO IT FOR ANSLEY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT HER.
Kokesch: SO, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW
IF I WERE GONNA TAKE THE LAMB FROM YOU?
AS LONG AS IT'S IN MY EYESIGHT, THEN I'M OKAY
BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT IT.
SO, YOU DO REALIZE
THAT WHAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW
IS LIKE A DEPENDENCY.
IF YOU DO THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS,
IT IS THE BEGINNINGS OF BEING VERY, VERY ISOLATED.
IF SHE WERE TO ONLY HAVE THAT LAMB AS HER PRIMARY SOURCE
OF SOOTHING AND COMFORT,
JUST, EVENTUALLY,
HER LIFE WILL START TO KIND OF SPIRAL DOWNWARD.
THE LAMB REALLY IS A FAKE CONNECTION...
YEAH.
...BECAUSE IT CAN'T GIVE YOU
THE REAL COMPANIONSHIP THAT YOU NEED.
YOU COULD VERY WELL SLIP INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION.
IT WAS DEFINITELY HARD FOR ME TO HEAR.
I DIDN'T THINK OF MYSELF AS EVER BECOMING THAT EXTREME.
IF YOU WANT A NORMAL, HEALTHY, FUNCTIONING LIFE,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO QUIT THE LAMB.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S SO INNOCENT.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
THAT MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
IT KIND OF WAS A WAKE-UP CALL.
I DEFINITELY HAVE DECIDED
I'M GONNA START MAKING SOME CHANGES IN MY LIFE.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD, BUT I DEFINITELY AM GLAD
THAT I'M STARTING OUT THIS JOURNEY.
Narrator: NICOLE HAS BEEN ADDICTED TO EATING DEODORANT FOR TWO YEARS.
SHE CONSUMES UP TO HALF A STICK A DAY
AND CARRIES IT WITH HER AT ALL TIMES.
BUT HER BOYFRIEND IS WORRIED THE DEODORANT COULD BE HARMFUL
AND HAS CONVINCED NICOLE TO SEE A DOCTOR.
Nicole: I'M NERVOUS ABOUT SPEAKING WITH THE DOCTOR.
I AM SCARED ABOUT HEARING WHAT COULD REALLY BE WRONG WITH ME.
EVER SINCE I WAS YOUNGER, I'VE BEEN EATING DEODORANT,
AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS.
HOW MANY STICKS OF DEODORANT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE EATING PER DAY?
PROBABLY A HALF A STICK A DAY.
AND, PHYSICALLY, HAVE YOU BEEN HAVING ANY SORT OF FATIGUE
OR LETHARGY OR...?
I DO GET SOME SIDE EFFECTS.
IF I OVERDO IT, I'LL THROW UP. I'LL GET HEADACHES.
ANOTHER THING IS THE MEMORY LOSS.
I DO HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU.
WHEN YOU TAKE IN THIS DEODORANT,
THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IS A METAL -- ALUMINUM.
THERE ARE SOME POTENTIALLY SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS
AND SO FORTH THAT CAN HAPPEN.
SHE REALLY DIDN'T TOTALLY UNDERSTAND
HOW SERIOUS THIS REALLY AND TRULY IS.
IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY TOXIN GOING INTO HER BODY.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT SOME UNFORTUNATE OUTCOMES CAN HAPPEN.
THIS CAN LITERALLY BE LIFE AND DEATH FOR HER.
[ SIGHS DEEPLY ]
I HAVE YOUR LAB RESULTS.
SOME OF THESE TROUBLE ME,
THINKING THAT YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO OSTEOPOROSIS,
THAT YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO ANEMIA
THAT DOESN'T RESPOND TO THERAPY.
BUT THE THING I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT WITH YOU
IS HOW THE ALUMINUM IS AFFECTING YOUR BRAIN.
IT CAN EVEN PROGRESS TO DEMENTIA
AND EVEN AN ALZHEIMER'S-TYPE PICTURE, AS WELL.
AND SO WE HAVE TO TURN THIS AROUND.
Nicole: THAT SCARED ME.
I'M ONLY 19 YEARS OLD,
SO I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE GOING THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AFTER TODAY, I DO NOT WANT ANY MORE DEODORANT.
WHATEVER CRAVINGS I HAVE, I'M GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT IT.
I HAVE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT ME,
SO I FEEL LIKE THIS ADDICTION
IS NOT GONNA LAST MUCH LONGER.
IT'S GONNA BE HARD,
BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO EAT DEODORANT AFTER TODAY.
I STILL FEEL LIKE IT'S AN ADDICTION
RATHER THAN A CHOICE,
BUT I'M CHOOSING TO QUIT THE ADDICTION.
I KNOW I'M GONNA GET THE CRAVINGS,
BUT I FEEL LIKE IF I WORK HARD AND I HAVE THE SUPPORT I NEED,
THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO QUIT.
SIX MONTHS FROM TODAY,
I SEE MYSELF STILL SEEING THE DOCTOR,
TALKING ABOUT MY ADDICTION,
BUT I DON'T SEE MYSELF EATING THE DEODORANT.
I SEE MYSELF WORKING ON REPAIRING THE DAMAGE
THAT THE DEODORANT HAS DONE TO MY BODY SO FAR.
I SEE MYSELF BEING HEALTHY
AND HELPING SOMEBODY ELSE THAT I KNOW
WHO HAS AN ADDICTION.