Keeping your hands busy is a good way to keep them out of your mouth. Consider using something like a fidget device , stress ball, or silly putty to keep your hands occupied.
Some people quit smoking by gradually cutting down on the number of cigarettes per day. You can do something similar with nail biting. Stick with that one finger until it becomes a habit and the nail begins to look healthier. Slowly back off that finger until you completely break the habit. In cognitive behavioral therapy CBT , a therapist will help you identify unhelpful behavior patterns and replace them with different behaviors.
CBT can be quite effective. But you should make an appointment with your doctor if you experience:. Addressing the source of the problem may help you change the behavior.
Nail biting is a repetitive behavior that ranges from mild to severe. It usually starts in childhood. While some people outgrow it, it can become a lifelong habit. But severe nail biting can lead to infection, dental problems, and other issues that need to be treated.
There are some strategies that can help you stop biting your nails. Dermatophagia is a type of body-focused repetitive behavior. Talk to your doctor if you regularly bite your fingers and nails. Ingrown fingernails can often be treated at home, but sometimes they'll require a trip to the doctor. Split nails are often caused by an injury such as a stubbed toe or receiving a severe blow to a finger or thumb. There are, however, other causes of….
An introvert is often thought of as a quiet, reserved, and thoughtful individual. Experts say the COVID pandemic added to the stresses of job insecurity and food shortages already felt by People of Color and young adults. The same goes for different emotions or feelings that usually make you bite: if being frustrated is a trigger for you, try to alter the circumstances in some way, by giving yourself something else to do or making it harder to bite.
If you still can't stop, there's also a way to make nail biting way less palatable no matter what the circumstance: clear nail polishes that taste absolutely terrible. They're harmless, but once you paint these on, even brief contact between your mouth and your nails will leave a bitter, disgusting taste in your mouth until you eat something else.
Some people have success combining this with other strategies. Regardless of the particular technique you use, a big thing to keep in mind is that breaking your addiction might not come all at once, so if you break down and bite it doesn't mean you have to give up completely. Abstaining for longer and longer chunks of time can still help break down the habit — until, someday, the bizarre habit of nail biting no longer has the same hold on your mind.
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By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The psychology of why so many people bite their nails. Share this story Share this on Facebook Share this on Twitter Share All sharing options Share All sharing options for: The psychology of why so many people bite their nails.
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Why movies tilt the camera like this By Marie Cascione. Nail biting is rarely dangerous, but it can compromise your overall health, especially if you chew below the nailbed. Any biting and picking below the cuticle can create structural changes in the base of the nail that alters the way the nail grows out. Jasmine O. Obioha , a dermatologist at Cedars-Sinai. Topical treatments like cortisone can reduce inflammation and offer relief, but sometimes doctors have to drain the area to relieve pressure.
Nail biters are also more prone to develop colds and flu. It can be tough to stop biting your nails, particularly if you've been chewing them since childhood. These strategies can help:.
Covering your nails with a barrier like gloves, mittens, socks—or using retainer-style or bite-plate devices in your mouth—can act as a deterrent for nail-biting behaviors. Instead of trying to stop biting all of your nails overnight, take a gradual approach, focusing on one nail at a time. Once you succeed with one nail, add another until you're able to stop biting the nails on your whole hand.
Kicking a childhood habit is complicated—and sometimes the inability to quit is a sign of a more serious psychological or emotional issue.
There are focused treatments—both medical and psychological—that can help, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and decoupling strategies. In the meantime, watch out for redness, pain, swelling, peeling, or changes in the nail. Pitting, discoloration, and abnormal growth may be a sign of a medical problem.
If something unusual is going on, check with a doctor. Skip to content. Some people twirl their hair. Some fiddle with a ring. Others bite their nails. Nail biting explained. Genetics: Kids whose parents bite their nails are more likely to follow suit—even if the parent stops the behavior before the child is born. Anxiety: Nail biting can be a sign of anxiety or stress.
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