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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
My daughter constantly pulls her nails and toenails
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
My daughter constantly pulls her nails and toenails
by momofmydaughter, May 06, 2008 03:36PM
Hello doctor: My daughter is 13 years old and several months ago I noticed that she was tearing and pulling both nails and toenails. The nails were not even enough long to be clipped and we talked about it and I asked her to stop doing it because she was hurting herself. (The toenails specially looked extremely short )
She agreed. I checked on her couple of day later and she improved a little and showed me the improvement and then start doing it again in couple of days. Seems that she can't stop doing that. I remember that she used to like to go manicures and pedicures and I even rewarded her when she improved sometime ago, but now seems that she doesn't even care and I keep asking her to stop touching her nails and she gets upset and she tells me "I know mom! I will let them grow! What can I do for her.?
She agreed. I checked on her couple of day later and she improved a little and showed me the improvement and then start doing it again in couple of days. Seems that she can't stop doing that. I remember that she used to like to go manicures and pedicures and I even rewarded her when she improved sometime ago, but now seems that she doesn't even care and I keep asking her to stop touching her nails and she gets upset and she tells me "I know mom! I will let them grow! What can I do for her.?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 06, 2008 03:49PM
, May 06, 2008 03:49PM
To: mommof
This sounds like a compulsion, and compulsions are usually treated by psychiatrists, and often times with medication. You should get a consultation with a psychiatrist.
