Any ideas to break this habit?

Question

I've always had this habit that when I am studying or reading for school (or even during a class) I have a pencil or pen in my hand and I chew on the end of it (or chew on the cap of the pen). It wasnt a big issue before but seems to be getting worse because i think i keep biting harder. So much that my gums start to get sore and sometimes ruining the pen. I've tried not holding it and willing myself to try to forget about it, but that doesn't work for long. Sooner or later the pen ends up in my mouth without thinking at all. Chewing gum also doesn't work that well (plus teachers dont allow it in class).

I think im doing it because i have anxiety over tests and grades. But not much I can do really to lower that stress. It will always be there.

Anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

Chewing on pencils or pens is actually a very, very common habit among children and adults. It's just not THAT big of a problem. But obviously if you are hurting your teeth and biting to a point of destroying pens, you need to take some measures to stop.

The best way to break it is to use a product that people use to stop nail-biting and thumb-sucking. The best on the market is called 'MAVALA Stop." Its like a nail polish but what you need to do is apply some of it to the ends of all your pencils, pens, and pen caps. It tastes VERY bad! Horrible. Which is a good thing because it trains your brain to keep the pens away from your mouth. It will work because believe me, you will not want that taste in your mouth.

Answer 2

Well I can think of a couple of things:

1. Take the end of your pens (the chewing end) and dip it in something either spicy hot, like the juice from a super hot chile.or something very nasty like vinegar or something you really cant stand.

2. Because you will be tempted to keep chewing you should chew gum, or take up smoking. JUST KIDDING.

BYE NOW remember once you stop doing it for one day...the next day it will become a LITTLE easiar. Or just do the second day like you did the first. Good for you for trying to improve yourself.

Answer 3

My friend sucked his thumb until he was 13. Then we had the bright I idea to soak it in tobasco sauce. I don't suggest that. Put a rubber band on your wrist and when you start to chew pop it. Soon your subconscious will start to group chewing a pen or pencil with pain and will stop. You don't have to hurt yourself just a little pop. Plus it gets you to realize what you are doing and makes you do something else as soon as you see you are doing it. Eventually you will stop yourself before it gets to your mouth.

Answer 4

You can try two things, sit in front of mirror and coinciously taken pencil in your mouth, do it a dozn times daily.
Second in the night reinforce thought that pen in in your hand and your hand in not willing to move toward your mouth. Subcoincious conditioning will help. Good luck

Answer 5

Yes, there is a CD movie BEING IN CONTROL: Natural Solutions For ADHD Dyslexia and Test Anxiety. With Amazon.com

Answer 6

ok-try putting all your pens or pencils away from sight. even erasers! if you just all of a sudden find yourself again chewing a pen or pencil, quickly stop and put it far far from you. also, if you're reading or studying, etc. and if someone is close to you, remind them to tell you whenever you're biting again!

Answer 7

WARNING you can give yourself severe TMJ like I did by chewing gum 24/7 for four years and then I had to go through the worst dental treatment ever!!!!! yipes! if your gums are sore that's a sign that too much pressure is going onto your jaw. quit while you're ahead...try tapping your foot or even better...try a stress relief ball like one of these: this should work like a charm:
http://www.nextag.com/stress-relief-ball/search-html

Answer 8

Try putting something that tastes awful on the tip of your pens. Like nailpolish remover.

Answer 9

get pens that have the fluffy feathers on the ends. that way, if you chew on it, you'll have a mouth full of feathers. and, you'll have really cute pens to write with......if you dont eat them first.

Answer 10

Maybe you can put something on there that tastes nasty so that way immediately after you put it in your mouth, you take it out. Just make sure it isn't poisonous or something.