I Chew On Things A lot....Could This Be a Medical Problem?

Question

I bite my nails and the skin around my fingers a lot, and now I'm trying to quit. But now I've realized that I chew on a lot of things, and I always have. I chew on pop cans, pencil pads (The little tube of rubber you put on pencils), random things of plastic and etc. I seem to do it when I'm bored. Could this be a medical problem, or am I just simply chewing out of boredom?

Answer 1

You sound like you are nervous and also have made it a habit.

Here is a website I found about chewing nails and why: Maybe you can learn more about it and stop and work on the others once you realize why you do it. Best wishes to you. Happy New Year. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/37420/how_to_stop_biting_or_chewing_your.html


Typically born out of stress and/or nervousness, the habit of nail chewing can progress from a minor symptom of stress or nervous behavior to an uncontrollable, unconscious habit. Because the human body generally finds it difficult to just sit idly, many people find themselves absentmindedly chewing their nails during regular activities in which their hands aren't utilized, such as watching television or reading a paper.

You are likely aware of the problem but have no idea what can be done to stop it. As it has become severely ingrained into your daily habits, nail biting and chewing can sometimes be as addictive and intensely hard to break as cigarettes or drinking.

Possible solutions are numerous and varied, designed either to inhibit, cure, or distract you from nail chewing actions.

One simple solution to stop you from chewing your nails is to wear gloves. While this may certainly inhibit you from biting your nails, it is not entirely practical, as wearing gloves can also inhibit you from performing other functions requiring your hands, and it would be impossible to wear them continually, especially in hot weather.

Attempting to serve as a distraction, chewing gum has worked for many, while others have had little or no results, continuing to chew their nails even as the gum lay in their mouth.

Another recommendation is to actually physically train yourself not to bite or chew your nails. This can sometimes be achieved by sprinkling your nails with a substance such as chili powder or a foul tasting, bitter liquid. In this method, every time you attempt to chew your nails, you will have an adverse reaction to the horrid or hot taste on your fingertips, and eventually "cure" yourself of the habit.

Many have claimed success with this solution, but the process can sometimes be long, while others have claimed to revert back to their nail chewing habit once the substance has been removed or washed away.

Answer 2

Probably not medical, but certainly psychological. Stop chewing on your nails and finger skin; you can get a serious infection and end up with flesh-eating disease - honest, that should be a big wake-up call. As for chewing everything else, you are going to wreck your teeth and/or digestive system. You are probably a nervous type of personality, and maybe just to find other ways to "fiddle". Try doodling.

Answer 3

Crate education is nice for this domestic dog. At 10 months she remains a toddler, and then they bypass by a teenage degree after their first year. once you may't watch her placed her contained in the crate. i might want to also purchase a Kong in case you do not have already got one and fill it with treats. I easily have a canines that chews and likely you should visual demonstrate unit her consistently. I tell her "NO!!!!! Leeeeave it!!!! and he or she has gotten to the position she in the present day stops what she is doing. It takes some artwork yet staying power will pay off.

Answer 4

Well, it's called an oral fixation. Probably you originally sucked your thumb. Then maybe you swapped it out -- not intentionally! -- for something more grown up, like nail biting. In times of stress, to comfort yourself, instead of thumb sucking, then you do whatever else with your mouth, like chew on something, bite nails, smoke, eat, whatever.

Answer 5

It doesn't seem to be a medical problem, but only a bad habit.

Answer 6

Nobody knows exactly what causes this kind of behavior. A old-school psychiatrist named Sigmund Freud labeled this behavior "oral aggressive" and believed that its root cause is that your mother stopped breast feeding you too soon.

Answer 7

I think this is more of a habit than a medical problem.

Answer 8

I think you just like to chew...

Answer 9

YES CHEWING IS FATAL! YOU CAN DIE FROM CHEWING! YOU NEED TO TAKE ALOT OF PILLS TO CURE THIS DISORDER!

Answer 10

NO!!!