Nail biting?!?!
Question: Nail biting!?!!?
how do i stop biting my nails!?!i've been doing it since i got my first tooth!?!please tell me how!?!and please dont say things like nail polish or those things you put on your nail so it would taste bad!?!oh yeah and im a boy!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Nail biting is a habit that is not easy to quit!. If you are tired of the nail stubs and bleeding, try these simple remedies to promote normal, beautiful nail growth, and prevent:
Split and fractured nails!.
Bleeding around the nails!.
Infections!.
Pain!.
Before long your nails will be shiny and you will want to care for them and avoid the common problems that can come with longer nails!.
Steps
Confront your problem!. Get a camera and take some pictures of your bitten fingernails!. Examine your nails, and list their problems!.
Visualize yourself with healthy nails, and how great they will look!.
Pick at least one nail to "protect" at a time!.
After a few days, an unbitten nail will flourish and reward you!. Do not bite it!. If you must, bite one of the 'unprotected' ones!.
Once you have grown your unbitten nail for a while, start protecting another one!. And another!.
Record your progress in a notebook or photo album!. Take "before and after" photos of your nails and put them in the book to keep you motivated!. Recognizing that it usually takes takes three weeks to grow nails half a centimeter, chart out in the book how long you want your nails to be by a certain date!.
Eat calcium- and magnesium- rich foods so that your nails will repair and grow well!. Not only that, but most of the reason that the human body wants to bite nails is the lack of calcium and magnesium in the body and the body needs that material back!.
Push your cuticles back!. Many nail-biters do not have "moons" on the base of their fingernails because their cuticles have not been pushed back!. To do this, gently push your cuticles towards your finger to reveal more of your nail!. This is easier to do after a shower when your hands and nails are wet!. This makes the nail appear longer, and it gives a more attractive shape, which might also be a motivation to stop biting!.
Find a habit to take the place of nail biting!. Whenever you have the urge to bite, do that instead!. Some people like to drum their fingers, or just stare at their hands!. Just make sure it's not a bad habit; choose a helpful one or one that doesn't really matter either way!. 'Bitrex' is a chemical that is put in products to make them taste foul, obtained from your local pharmacy!. It's included in nibble inhibitors that you paint on to your nails!. Carry some with you at all times!. Apply your nasty solution several times a day!. If you get used to the taste, choose another brand!.
Distract your mouth!. Eat carrot sticks to keep you busy!. Keep a stick of gum handy for those weak moments!.
No more idle hands!.!.
Distract your hands by taking up a hobby!.
A hobby to distract your hands might be making models or maintaining your house, knitting or crochet, running or other outside pursuits, or even nail care and decoration!
For those whose nail biting is obsessive/compulsive it may help to approach your hobby obsessively!.
Cover your nails!. For females, fit artificial nails!. They can really help!. For guys, polish them and apply some shine/growth promoter or petroleum jelly!. It's harder to bite nails that are looking great!
Keep gloves in your back pocket and wear them when you want to bite!.
Put little pieces of tape on the ends of your fingers, to remind yourself how destructive biting is!.
If you have any surplus growth, cut your nails back!. Keep clippers with you at all times!. You can't bite if there's nothing there!
Speaking about your nails will help to focus your mind on your goals!. Ask for help from your partner(s)!. Keep talking about your goals!.
Show off your improved nails, and get much-needed encouragement and praise from your peers!.
Be proud of your improving nails!. They will shine with beauty!.
Go for a manicure, and chat with the manicurist about having great nails!.
If you are male and you go in for a manicure and anyone gives you grief for not being manly, just say you are taking radical steps, whatever it takes!. That should be manly enough for anyone!.
Keep looking after your nails, with cuticle oil, shine and growth promoter, and no biting!
Tips
Get to know yourself, the first step is to be conscious when you start biting your nails!. Feel your anxiety or stress levels!.
Don't start thinking there is a short term solution!. To stop nail biting, one requires patience and awareness!.
Use an emery board to file when ever you feel like biting!. Even if you file them down to nothing, it's better then chewing into your nail bed!. Ouch!
Try using a coating that seals moisture in the nail and repels water and dirt!. Oils or even waxy lip balm can be effective at softening nails!.
Keep going with the program, any setbacks should be confronted as quickly as possible, to prevent a complete relapse!.
Let white spots grow out gently!. They are caused by blows or stress to the nail!.
You can chew gum as it keeps you from biting your nails!.
Take magnesium pills, one a day!. They strengthen the nails and make them hard!.
Try keeping an "egg" of Silly Putty with you! It is fun to play with and it occupies your hands during biting-prone times like while watching movies or television or sitting in class!. Or you can try keeping a quarter or other coin in your pocket, and play with it when you feel the urge to bite your nails!. Plus, these don't involve eating or chewing on anything, so they will help break the habit of oral fixation!.
Challenge yourself: how many hours can you go without taking a bite!? When you break a previous record, get yourself a treat!. Then see: can you go a day!? Three days!? a week!? two weeks!?
Clean, manicured nails will be such an improvement to your self-esteem!. You'll see!
If the habit is unconscious (i!.e!., you don't even notice yourself starting to do it), consider using NLP or hypnotherapy - practitioners will know some great techniques for retraining your mind very quickly and easily to remove unwanted habits!.
See if you can notice how or when you decide to start biting!. There may be an underlying cause of stress, nerves or boredom perhaps!. Dealing with the underlying and real issue could stop the nail biting and more!.
Again, try chewing gum to keep your mouth busy!.
You might also want to try putting nail polish on!. Since it tastes so bad, you won't want to bite your nails anymore!.
As your nails/skin grow, they will seem puffy and itchy!. This is normal! This fudge-finger sensation will go away in time!.
Clean your nails! Part of the reason you bite them is because they are dirty!. Buff then, scrub them, clean them!. This will make you appreciate them more!.
If you are artistic, try doing projects with clay or plaster!. It gets all over your hands, and the flavour stays in your nails (and all over your hands) long after you wash off any visible mess!. They both taste bad to many people (clay tastes salty and can leave a slimy texture and plaster tastes chalky) and doing the projects will also keep your hands busy!.
Put nail jewels on your nails!. These are hard to bite, and the risk of one coming off in your mouth may scare you into quitting your habit!.
Remember that long ago, people used to think that bitten nails got lodged in people's intestines (to this day some parents still tell their children this)!. Even though we know now that this is not actually true, it's a gross thing to think about as you chew!.!.!.
Warnings
Don't be silly and replace nail-biting with a worse habit!. While stubby digits are unhealthy and painful, other habits can be worse!.
Chewing your fingernails invites infection!.
Brittle nails can be caused by strong detergents and chemicals, sun exposure, poor diet, or prolonged use of nail hardeners!. Avoid the use of hardeners containing formaldehyde, which has a drying effect on nails!.
Remember beauty is only skin deep!. As is ugly!. Telling yourself you are ugly will only undermine your self esteem and keep you from being your best!. Tell yourself instead that you are a special person and that you deserve to have healthy looking nails too!.
Things You'll Need
A balanced diet, rich in beneficial minerals and vitamins: eggs, soy, whole grains and liver are helpful to nails!. Sulfurous minerals found in apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus, and onions all help consistent growth!. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are found in salmon, nuts, seeds and tuna!. They all help keep nails shiny and pliable!. General vitamins and minerals are also important!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Split and fractured nails!.
Bleeding around the nails!.
Infections!.
Pain!.
Before long your nails will be shiny and you will want to care for them and avoid the common problems that can come with longer nails!.
Steps
Confront your problem!. Get a camera and take some pictures of your bitten fingernails!. Examine your nails, and list their problems!.
Visualize yourself with healthy nails, and how great they will look!.
Pick at least one nail to "protect" at a time!.
After a few days, an unbitten nail will flourish and reward you!. Do not bite it!. If you must, bite one of the 'unprotected' ones!.
Once you have grown your unbitten nail for a while, start protecting another one!. And another!.
Record your progress in a notebook or photo album!. Take "before and after" photos of your nails and put them in the book to keep you motivated!. Recognizing that it usually takes takes three weeks to grow nails half a centimeter, chart out in the book how long you want your nails to be by a certain date!.
Eat calcium- and magnesium- rich foods so that your nails will repair and grow well!. Not only that, but most of the reason that the human body wants to bite nails is the lack of calcium and magnesium in the body and the body needs that material back!.
Push your cuticles back!. Many nail-biters do not have "moons" on the base of their fingernails because their cuticles have not been pushed back!. To do this, gently push your cuticles towards your finger to reveal more of your nail!. This is easier to do after a shower when your hands and nails are wet!. This makes the nail appear longer, and it gives a more attractive shape, which might also be a motivation to stop biting!.
Find a habit to take the place of nail biting!. Whenever you have the urge to bite, do that instead!. Some people like to drum their fingers, or just stare at their hands!. Just make sure it's not a bad habit; choose a helpful one or one that doesn't really matter either way!. 'Bitrex' is a chemical that is put in products to make them taste foul, obtained from your local pharmacy!. It's included in nibble inhibitors that you paint on to your nails!. Carry some with you at all times!. Apply your nasty solution several times a day!. If you get used to the taste, choose another brand!.
Distract your mouth!. Eat carrot sticks to keep you busy!. Keep a stick of gum handy for those weak moments!.
No more idle hands!.!.
Distract your hands by taking up a hobby!.
A hobby to distract your hands might be making models or maintaining your house, knitting or crochet, running or other outside pursuits, or even nail care and decoration!
For those whose nail biting is obsessive/compulsive it may help to approach your hobby obsessively!.
Cover your nails!. For females, fit artificial nails!. They can really help!. For guys, polish them and apply some shine/growth promoter or petroleum jelly!. It's harder to bite nails that are looking great!
Keep gloves in your back pocket and wear them when you want to bite!.
Put little pieces of tape on the ends of your fingers, to remind yourself how destructive biting is!.
If you have any surplus growth, cut your nails back!. Keep clippers with you at all times!. You can't bite if there's nothing there!
Speaking about your nails will help to focus your mind on your goals!. Ask for help from your partner(s)!. Keep talking about your goals!.
Show off your improved nails, and get much-needed encouragement and praise from your peers!.
Be proud of your improving nails!. They will shine with beauty!.
Go for a manicure, and chat with the manicurist about having great nails!.
If you are male and you go in for a manicure and anyone gives you grief for not being manly, just say you are taking radical steps, whatever it takes!. That should be manly enough for anyone!.
Keep looking after your nails, with cuticle oil, shine and growth promoter, and no biting!
Tips
Get to know yourself, the first step is to be conscious when you start biting your nails!. Feel your anxiety or stress levels!.
Don't start thinking there is a short term solution!. To stop nail biting, one requires patience and awareness!.
Use an emery board to file when ever you feel like biting!. Even if you file them down to nothing, it's better then chewing into your nail bed!. Ouch!
Try using a coating that seals moisture in the nail and repels water and dirt!. Oils or even waxy lip balm can be effective at softening nails!.
Keep going with the program, any setbacks should be confronted as quickly as possible, to prevent a complete relapse!.
Let white spots grow out gently!. They are caused by blows or stress to the nail!.
You can chew gum as it keeps you from biting your nails!.
Take magnesium pills, one a day!. They strengthen the nails and make them hard!.
Try keeping an "egg" of Silly Putty with you! It is fun to play with and it occupies your hands during biting-prone times like while watching movies or television or sitting in class!. Or you can try keeping a quarter or other coin in your pocket, and play with it when you feel the urge to bite your nails!. Plus, these don't involve eating or chewing on anything, so they will help break the habit of oral fixation!.
Challenge yourself: how many hours can you go without taking a bite!? When you break a previous record, get yourself a treat!. Then see: can you go a day!? Three days!? a week!? two weeks!?
Clean, manicured nails will be such an improvement to your self-esteem!. You'll see!
If the habit is unconscious (i!.e!., you don't even notice yourself starting to do it), consider using NLP or hypnotherapy - practitioners will know some great techniques for retraining your mind very quickly and easily to remove unwanted habits!.
See if you can notice how or when you decide to start biting!. There may be an underlying cause of stress, nerves or boredom perhaps!. Dealing with the underlying and real issue could stop the nail biting and more!.
Again, try chewing gum to keep your mouth busy!.
You might also want to try putting nail polish on!. Since it tastes so bad, you won't want to bite your nails anymore!.
As your nails/skin grow, they will seem puffy and itchy!. This is normal! This fudge-finger sensation will go away in time!.
Clean your nails! Part of the reason you bite them is because they are dirty!. Buff then, scrub them, clean them!. This will make you appreciate them more!.
If you are artistic, try doing projects with clay or plaster!. It gets all over your hands, and the flavour stays in your nails (and all over your hands) long after you wash off any visible mess!. They both taste bad to many people (clay tastes salty and can leave a slimy texture and plaster tastes chalky) and doing the projects will also keep your hands busy!.
Put nail jewels on your nails!. These are hard to bite, and the risk of one coming off in your mouth may scare you into quitting your habit!.
Remember that long ago, people used to think that bitten nails got lodged in people's intestines (to this day some parents still tell their children this)!. Even though we know now that this is not actually true, it's a gross thing to think about as you chew!.!.!.
Warnings
Don't be silly and replace nail-biting with a worse habit!. While stubby digits are unhealthy and painful, other habits can be worse!.
Chewing your fingernails invites infection!.
Brittle nails can be caused by strong detergents and chemicals, sun exposure, poor diet, or prolonged use of nail hardeners!. Avoid the use of hardeners containing formaldehyde, which has a drying effect on nails!.
Remember beauty is only skin deep!. As is ugly!. Telling yourself you are ugly will only undermine your self esteem and keep you from being your best!. Tell yourself instead that you are a special person and that you deserve to have healthy looking nails too!.
Things You'll Need
A balanced diet, rich in beneficial minerals and vitamins: eggs, soy, whole grains and liver are helpful to nails!. Sulfurous minerals found in apples, cucumbers, grapes, garlic, asparagus, and onions all help consistent growth!. Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are found in salmon, nuts, seeds and tuna!. They all help keep nails shiny and pliable!. General vitamins and minerals are also important!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I asked the same question and here's the best answer that I got!. hope it helps you, because it helped me!.!.!.well some of it!.!.!.
set up some kind of reward system for every day/week you don't bite your nails-you have to stick with this for it to work! allow your self to buy little things you want or have a certain desert you like when you reach your goal!. If your parents give you allowance u can have them hold it every week you bite your nails-that would kick my butt in gear fast!.
Replace nail biting with something else like twirling your thumbs or something-a lot of people bite nails as a stress release or as a way to combat boredom, try doing something else instead just make sure its not another destructive habit you'll want to break later
tell all your friends and family what you are trying to do and have them tell you to stop when they see you biting your nails
Keep up your cuticles! this helped me the most! Get some cuticle mostirizing cream and oil (try sally hansen products) When I had dry skin around my nails thats what made me want to bite my nails the most because i would bite at the cuticles and nails!. Use lotion every day too, this will help keep ur cuticles mosturized AND make your hands taste like lotion which will also alert you to the fact that you're biting your nails!.
Keep gum, mints, and small hard candies with you when you can to keep ur mouth occupied while you're in a situation when you usually bite your nails, like in class or during movies!.
Keep a nail file on you to file away snags so you aren't tempted to bite it off!. Nail clippers its easy to slip and cut too much off ur nail and whenever my nails were uneven i'd really want to even them out so i'd end up biting them all off if i cut one too short!.
as corny as it sounds when you wake up in the morning look at yourself in the mirror and say i am NOT going to bite my nails today!.!.!.i felt kind of dumb doing this but after a while i really felt like it was helping somehow
You have to be really ready to do it mentally!. Just stay focused and strong you can do it :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
set up some kind of reward system for every day/week you don't bite your nails-you have to stick with this for it to work! allow your self to buy little things you want or have a certain desert you like when you reach your goal!. If your parents give you allowance u can have them hold it every week you bite your nails-that would kick my butt in gear fast!.
Replace nail biting with something else like twirling your thumbs or something-a lot of people bite nails as a stress release or as a way to combat boredom, try doing something else instead just make sure its not another destructive habit you'll want to break later
tell all your friends and family what you are trying to do and have them tell you to stop when they see you biting your nails
Keep up your cuticles! this helped me the most! Get some cuticle mostirizing cream and oil (try sally hansen products) When I had dry skin around my nails thats what made me want to bite my nails the most because i would bite at the cuticles and nails!. Use lotion every day too, this will help keep ur cuticles mosturized AND make your hands taste like lotion which will also alert you to the fact that you're biting your nails!.
Keep gum, mints, and small hard candies with you when you can to keep ur mouth occupied while you're in a situation when you usually bite your nails, like in class or during movies!.
Keep a nail file on you to file away snags so you aren't tempted to bite it off!. Nail clippers its easy to slip and cut too much off ur nail and whenever my nails were uneven i'd really want to even them out so i'd end up biting them all off if i cut one too short!.
as corny as it sounds when you wake up in the morning look at yourself in the mirror and say i am NOT going to bite my nails today!.!.!.i felt kind of dumb doing this but after a while i really felt like it was helping somehow
You have to be really ready to do it mentally!. Just stay focused and strong you can do it :)Www@Answer-Health@Com
I have bit my nails since I can remember and I am almost 40!.!.!.!. I have tried to stop for many years but I find myself biting them when I'm watching tv or something and i dont even realize Im doing it!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!. I did stop once for a few month when I had fake nails put on but I did end up biting them off too!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Realize that if your nails are not clean you can get little worms in your poop!. Then you'll be embarrassed and have to get something from the doctor to clear that up!.
If being grossed out doesn't work then do what my mom did!.!.!.she bribed me!. Money did it!. I don't know how old you are!. I was about 11 and that was eons ago!. I guess today it would be about $150!.00!. Of course I never had much money in thows days so it was a big bribe!.
Now I have fairly long nails all the time!. (I'm a girl)Www@Answer-Health@Com
If being grossed out doesn't work then do what my mom did!.!.!.she bribed me!. Money did it!. I don't know how old you are!. I was about 11 and that was eons ago!. I guess today it would be about $150!.00!. Of course I never had much money in thows days so it was a big bribe!.
Now I have fairly long nails all the time!. (I'm a girl)Www@Answer-Health@Com
I use 2 nail products:
* Nutra Nail: 5-7 day growth
*HOOF Stop The Bite!
I found them both at Wal-Mart!. Nutra Nail helps you nails grow longer, and Stop the bite gives off bad taste when you try to buy your nails!. It helped me stop biting my nails =0)Www@Answer-Health@Com
* Nutra Nail: 5-7 day growth
*HOOF Stop The Bite!
I found them both at Wal-Mart!. Nutra Nail helps you nails grow longer, and Stop the bite gives off bad taste when you try to buy your nails!. It helped me stop biting my nails =0)Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is important to understand why you are doing it, because as you stop biting your fingernails, you will want to find ways to distract yourself try chewing some gum!. Try this website www!.nailbitestopper!.comWww@Answer-Health@Com
either put Nail polish on them so you resist from distorting it or something spicy on them like hot sauce whatever you can think ofWww@Answer-Health@Com
I wish i could find out too! I go braces, and couldn't bite them for like a week, then afterward I gave in, and did it!.Sucks ): I bite them again!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
well even though your a boy you could try wearing clear nail polish!. nobody will notice really!.
you could wear gloves
put duck tape over your nails until you stop the urge to bite your nailsWww@Answer-Health@Com
you could wear gloves
put duck tape over your nails until you stop the urge to bite your nailsWww@Answer-Health@Com
the only way to break a habit ti so make a new one!.
o instead of biting your nails, carry some carrots around or some crackers!. something!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
o instead of biting your nails, carry some carrots around or some crackers!. something!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
cut your nails before they get long enough to bite them!? then you won't have to worry about biting them!Www@Answer-Health@Com
put something like polish or deoderant on them so u dnt want to bite them or substitute 4 chewing gum etc!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
get clear nail polishWww@Answer-Health@Com