I dont know why I bite my nails, but I do. I want to stop please please help me!?

Question

I dont know what to do anymore. I alwyas bite my nails, and I dont know why. Its like second nature to me, please if anyone knows how to end this, please help. I am not under alot of stress, and I've been biting my nails ever since I was a little kid.

Answer 1

Use "Bite It" from CVS. I do the exact same thing (no stress or anything, it's just second nature). I'm 20 and still can't stop. I recently started using this Bite It stuff to try and help me stop and it's working. It goes on like nail polish but tastes sooooo bad and doesn't wash off, the taste is also really hard to get out of your mouth. So it makes me think twice about biting my nails now. I would often bite at them and not even know, so now I'm completely aware of how often I do it and it helps me stop. It's working slowly... It goes on clear (even though it looks beige in the bottle) and you just put on a new coat every couple days. You can even put it on over top of a colored coat. And it stops you from biting the skin around your nails too if you have that problem like I do. It's hard to bite any part of your finger without your tongue or lip touching your nails by accident, then it takes a couple minutes for the taste to go away. It's not unbearable or sickening or anything, just bad. The bottle's only like $3 at CVS or Walgreen's. Give it a try, and if it doesn't work, you can always return it to the company for a refund (or accept the $3 loss and throw it away). It takes a lot of will power too. So just keep telling yourself you can do it. And also, carry around a nail file at all times. I found that I would most often bite my nails if they were chipped or cracked a little bit, but then biting them would just make it worse, so I'd bite more, and it was just one big cycle. So if you have a nail file to use to fix them instead, you're less likely to try and bite them. It also works better.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 2

I had a horrible problem with biting my nails, it's been about six ears since I first started and I still bite them occasionally. At first, I stopped biting them when I got No Bite, which is a clear nail polish that tastes awful. I didn't like it, because it meant if I ate finger food, I was likely to taste my nails, so I solved that by putting nail polish over the No Bite. But just recently, I started biting them again. Like you, I don't know why, except that when I get stressed I bite them more. But one thing I have found that works is to stop biting them one at a time. Just decide to stop biting one nail, and never, EVER bite that nail. Then move on to another one. And another. And another. It takes a LOT of will power, but it works. Right now, I only bite four of my nails, the other six are long and healthy.
I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 3

It's nothing to do with being nervous, it's just a habit.

It usually takes about 3 weeks to break a habit - so you need to go at least 3 weeks without biting them. Of course, half the time you don't know you are, so what the other answers mentioned is a good idea - the nail polish that tastes very very bad.

That will alert you to the fact that you are biting them. Don't get frustrated or annoyed or angry, just think, "oops, was biting them" and stop. As you do this your brain will learn to realize when you're biting your nails, and soon enough you will stop yourself as soon as you start.

Several weeks later, you will no longer have the habit... you will probably still have something else though, or even a new habit, but hopefully it won't be as bad as biting your nails! (we seem to like doing something when we're idle... just try and find one you like!)

Answer 4

Go have fake nails put on at the nail shop. This will help get you out of the habit of biting and maybe you can have them removed and not bite again. If that doesn't work then keep having your nails done.

Answer 5

Biting your nails is a habit to you and to break a habit it takes between 25-30 days. so what i suggest is that you try not to bite your nails for 25-30 days and see what happens. and if you ever bite them between that time period then you can always start over. but anyway after that time you will no longer think of biting your nails as second nature. you wont really do it at all.

Answer 6

There's a nail polish out there (it's clear) that tastes really bad so if you bite your nails with it on, you'll be totally disgusted. It's sold at drugstores and it's made especially for nailbiters. If you don't want to go that route, maybe just put some first-aid tape or band-aids around your nails. You're going to have to display a lot of discipline to kick the habit, but you really want to stop, you will evetually. Maybe for every day that you don't bite them, treat yourself to something fun (a great dessert, a new pair of shoes, etc.).

Answer 7

My guy chum has the comparable concern. i've got painted his nails with a sparkling nail polish - no person notices, have faith me...yet anyhow, what in many cases occurs is that suited earlier he bites his nails, he has a tendency to experience the nail (subconsciously). as quickly as he feels that his nails are certainly soft, he recollects that he has nail polish on which shows that it grow for use to evade him from biting. Now, he's lots greater advantageous! I in simple terms paint it on for him often times, in many cases each and every time it gets undesirable back. good success, it is not an straight forward habit to do away with, yet this equipment works! in simple terms attempt it for a pair days and notice, you are able to continually do away with the nail polish if it doesnt artwork

Answer 8

i use to bite my nails a lot also almost all of my life...until now. about 6 months ago i began to notice that whenever i yawned, my jaw bone use to practically lock itself while my mouth was open, it would scare the daylights out of me and then after a few seconds would snap again and close. i was so scared, thinking is my jaw going to break some day or what??? and i couldnt go to a dentist since im studying abroad, plus here in italy i didnt really trust the service they do here. but it would occur almost every time i yawned.

then months after months i began to control it not permitting me to open my mouth to much as i yawn and for some reason i began to notice that the days would bite my nails, my jaw would lock again when i did. and whenver i didnt bite my nails, and i yawned normally. so since then i stoped, everytime i began bitting automatically id quickly remember, 'locked jaw!!' (its a horrible feeling btw) and would stop immediatly. so that was my trick...be careful, after so many years of doing it, i am proof to you that your jaw can begin to dislocate itself the more you do it the more it worsens...

Answer 9

From mild to extreme

--->think of the damage you do to your nails everytime you chew on them (read up on articles about biting one's nails, and the damage it causes.)

--->consider biting on your nails a disgusting, child's habit (I dont' think so, but if you think it is, maybe through sheer mind power you'll stop)


--->Everytime you want to bite your nails, think about something else, or do something to distract yourself

--->Consider chewing on your lip instead

--->paint your nails in a polish that tastes awful

--->coat your fingernails with Quinine (a really disgusting tasting stuff sometimes used for stopping kids from sucking their fingers)

--->coat your fingernails in vanilla extract (smells great, tastes gross by itself)

--->If none of these work, you could carry a pin with you, and everytime you chew on your nails, immedietly stick yourself on the finger with the pin (or stick it somewhere that it will hurt that won't be socially unacceptable)

--->hit your head on a wall everytime you chew on your nails

--->Inflict bodily pain that you can't stand everytime you bite your nails

Hope this kicks the addiction.

Answer 10

I know what you are talking about, I am having the same problem till today. but i bite my nails, when i am bored or waiting...