Extreme Nail Biting Problem

[smartin91]

I have a nail biting problem.

My nails are chewed down past my fingertips. My ring fingernails are shortest, at about an eight of an inch long. The skin where my nails used to be is scarred and ugly. Despite the intense pain and bleeding, I can't stop biting my nails. When I can't get a grip on the nail with my teeth, I find myself picking at them with a knife, nail clippers, pencil, or whatever's on hand.

I've tried nail polish. I ended up picking it off and then chewing as usual, all without even thinking about what I was doing. I tried bad tasting stuff, but I chew anyway, ignoring the bad taste, again without thought. I've even tried gloves, but I end up taking them off almost immediately, as I need absolute precision for my career- I'm an artist.

I've also been through some other supposed cures. I had braces for two years; rather than making it harder for me to chew, I ended up just picking more effectively at my nails with the metal brackets. The same can be said for the retainer I now wear. I've tried replacing my habit with something else, like gum chewing, but I find myself still chewing my nails even when the gum is in my mouth.

I know exactly why I bite my nails. It isn't because I'm anxious, and it isn't a leftover habit from finger sucking, which I never did. I do it because I can't stand my nails to be at all uneven or sharp. If I develop a hangnail, I pick at it because it's an aberration. So i bite and bite, trying to even things out. But then the leading edge of my nail will get sharp or cracked, and I bite it back and scrape it smooth with my teeth, often causing more aberrations in the smoothness of the nail. It hurts like a mother, and it bleeds hideously, but I barely notice when I'm chewing my nails. And that's why nothing works. I don't realize I'm biting my nails until after the fact.

Don't get me wrong, I am VERY embarrassed by this habit, and always have been. I used to say I broke my nails playing with my dogs, or they got smashed in the door, and other things like that. More recently I've just been fessing up, but it still hurts and humiliated me to see people cringing at the sight of my hands. I was too embarrassed to get my nails done for prom, because I barely have any. I hate people watching me draw and sculpt, because they'll be focused on my hands. I sit with my hands curled into fists, so my nails are hidden. Nail biting is like alcoholism for me. Everybody knows I do it, I'm extremely embarrassed about it, but there's nothing I can do to quit. I'm too embarrassed even to go to a doctor about it, and WAY too embarrassed to go to a hypnotist. Also, there's the fact that I'm strapped for cash, and couldn't afford it anyway.

And so, I'm coming here for help. Is there anything I can do to try and kick this habit? I'm convinced that if I can grow them out and keep them tidy, I can stop my nail biting, but it's impossible for me as things stand right now. Please help!

[lucyharris]

Hi I wondered if you managed to stop biting ? mine are even worse than yours
god they hurt sometimes, throbbing pain that lasts for hours, I just have to get all my nails the same length, and hate any imperfections, Im constantly checking them, biting picking scraping at them, I also get very humilated if someone mentions my nails !
I guess its some form of OCD, as I also do the same with my toenails. ( yuk I know )
does anyone else bite this badly ? I'd love to hear from you if you do
lucyharris(AT)123mail.org  change the AT to @

[ruru299]

I bite my nails for the same reasons as you mentioned, and I've been doing it since I was two (I'm 19 now). Although my nails aren't as short as yours, I also bite the skin around the nails, many times to the point of bleeding, and I've even lost a nail twice to infection. However, there have been two times that I stopped biting completely: when I got fake nails put on, and when I went to a counselor. There are nails you can get that don't damage your real ones...they're just plastic and you can apply them with a little drop of glue. I was going to a counselor for reasons other than the nail biting, but just getting things off my chest and talking about things that were bothering me in my life seemed to help a lot.

I hope you are able to stop, and I wish you success in your art career!

[Nat_16]

I used to bite my nails and have only recently stopped.  Im 19 and I would wear a rubber band on my arm and whenever anyone told me I was biting my nails I'd flick myself...It hurt but i dont bite my nails anymore.  Even now, I still have to keep my hands busy so I dont get back into the nail biting habbit.  Im not suggesting you flick yourself with a rubber band but maybe some sort of "punishment" or "payment" for biting your nails.  give it a shot.  Good luck!!

[turkee23]

ouch...that just looks painful.......better stop before you grow a finger in your stomach....lol

[Bubbles631]

Hey I have a huge problem biting my nails Ive done it ever since ive been 5 years old and im now 15... i just bite my nails all the time, at school, at home, in the car everywhere! I have tried fake nails, stuff that tastes yucky in my mouth, my friends have tried to stop me too, but everytime they  turn away i bite or pick at them again! Please help me anyway you can! Thank you so much!

[Lynne2206]

i was doing to research about the artificial nails and i also talked to my sister about them.

turns out there's a newer kind of artificial nails that dont do as much damage because it doesnt use as many chemicals. it uses a different hardening agent and water instead of that stinky stuff.

and im sure if maybe letting the nails stay on for 2 weeks at a time, then taking them off for a little while would be the best..ur nails need to learn to be strong on their own eventually