Tongue Biting issues

[Nikkiye]

Hello, I have been having troubles biting my tongue for almost my whole life.
*May be too gross for some people*
I bite the taste buds, and even chunks of my tongue off at all times of the day. To the point to were it bleeds. (I even woke up to a bloody mouth and a bloody pillow and literally a chunk of tongue still in my mouth.) The sides and even top of my tongue have scars all over it because of this. My mouth is always in pain, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot quit biting my tongue. I don't even realize I do it... And when I do realize it I still cannot stop it, its like my teeth have a mind of their own.   I have tried chewing gum and at first it helped, even went as far as to get my tongue pierced to distract my teeth, to give them something to mess with instead of my tongue... I have also have depression and am on medication for that. I have told my doctor about this, but he just says its a phase. I can't get him to understand how painful it is, or even how so very difficult it is to try and stop, if at all.  I really need help, I can't taste anything and my teeth and jaw and just whole mouth in general hurt.

[JGF25]

Then why don't you take a look at The OCD Workbook:  Your Guide to Breaking Free of OCD.  You can order it from Amazon.  Ideally you should see a specialist but since you can't I hope this book can help you.  Also, you should check in your area for free group therapy sessions for OCD.  

[Nikkiye]

I would see a specialist, but i am unemployed at the moment, and do not have insurance. So a specialist would literally kill me in debt, plus all of the tests, and the retainer thing, i am sure, is not cheap.

[JGF25]

What doctor are you seeing?  Your general practitioner?  I cannot believe that a pscyhologist or psychiatrist would say "it is just a phase" after getting a look at your tongue.  I am certainly no expert on this but in just thinking of ways that you could stop injuring yourself, perhaps a set of plastic retainers would help you.  The kind that look like invisalign orthdontic retainers.  And of course if you are not seeing a specialist, then you need to.