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Hey guys,
I have bitten my nails since I was little. My mom has always done it as well and sometimes I wonder if that is where my habit stemmed from. As I've grown older the problem has gotten worse and my nails have become shorter and shorter. It is a habit that I really would like to stop but all of my attempts to quit for good have failed. Becoming vegan was never that difficult for me but letting my nails grow out is IMPOSSIBLE. I tried the nail polish that makes your nails taste bad, I just ripped the nail off with my fingers. It's not the act of biting my nails but more the need to make them shorter and shorter. Maybe it's a perfectionist thing: when I have an uneven nail or a hangnail I try to even it out by biting or ripping it only to make the situation much worse. The act of removing my nails has become an increasingly subconscious activity, something I do without even realizing that I'm doing it. It has become a very routine part of my day to day living and I really want to stop for good.
I have heard that acupuncture and hypnotizing can work for nail biters but I was just wondering if any of you had any suggestions on how to break this habit either from personal experience or by word of mouth.
Thanks guys!
as a biased future counselor, i would say checking in with a mental health pro wouldn't be a bad idea. cognitive behavior therapy is frequently used for behaviors that people want to get rid of. putting on the gross nail polish is a form of it - a negative consequence to biting your nails (bad taste) would theoretically make you stop doing it. if it has been going on for a long time and is really bothering you, it can't hurt to ask a pro. sounds like you've tried many conventional efforts and you've even mentioned that there may be some perfectionist tendencies. biting/ripping your nails can also have some nasty effects like infecions and damage to your skin.
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