Purging
Most individuals with Body Integrity Identity Disorder acquire items relating to their required impairment: crutches, wheelchairs, braces, prosthesis, and other similar items. These items are used for pretending, whether at home or in public.
Every once in a while when the shame and guilt becomes unbearable, transabled individuals throw these things out. Part of the hope is that by getting rid of the tangible "toys", the shameful BIID related feelings will also disappear.
This never works.
The act of purging may temporarily help the transabled individual, but invariably, the need to pretend comes back, and a new "collection" has to be built. The author of this article has purged nearly $10,000 worth of items over several years, but the need always came back.
