AIBU about nail biting?

[PaintedLady2014]

I've always bitten and chewed my nails. It's related to skin picking which I also do. Last year I picked the skin on my feet so badly it bled and I limped because of it. I've spoken to my GP and he suggested its on the OCD spectrum, although obviously I know its very complex.

Essentially, this is beyond just nail biting. My thumbs are so sore, they are cracked and bleeding. I've tried everything to stop, I do it without even realising.

I was muttering earlier about how sore I was and DH blurted out "well stop chewing your thumbs then!". Feeling defensive I joked "haha stop smoking then"

Admittedly not a very mature response but I felt embarrassed and this habit is a very sensitive subject, as DH knows. He said it was hardly the same, smoking has physical withdrawal etc. I've given up smoking, I know how hard it is, the problem with this is I don't even realise I'm doing it. If I try and stop the compulsion is like my skin is crawling.

Now I feel like DH doesn't really appreciate my problem. AIBU to think its just as valid a problem in terms of difficulty in giving up? Any fellow sufferers out there with any advice?

I was the same till about 6 months ago, my toddler starting to copy was the shove I needed. I echo what a couple of posters have said, lots of hand cream so the skin isn't dry and chewable and the Sally Hanson nail stuff is incredible. I've found now my nails are long they are far less chewable but I still struggle with the skin.

DH suggested that tape stuff, might be worth a go at least while it heals.

Oh one thing that did help me stop biting nails was painting them. Having them grow long enough to look nice in polish was motivation for me. But it wasn't a compulsions either, just a mindless habit I did when I was bored. I just sort of chew at the skin sometimes, but it's not anything that's causing problems or rawness.

Actually, I found giving up smoking a hell of a lot easier than stopping biting my nails! They are both addictive things to me, both of which I still do on the rare occasion, but the nail biting habit was one that I had from a young age. I still chew the skin on my fingers though (but not to the same extent as I did when I bit my nails too).

At the moment I have long nails, it's the first time that I've managed to have nails longer than a couple of mm long without biting them.

I think cutting my nails really short for climbing last year helped me stop, and becoming obsessive with hand cream as having drier skin makes it easier to chew. Fake nails made no difference to me. I also pick my heels, but not to the same extent that you do OP.

The skin tags do get better once you stop biting/chewing. Mine are still there, and I still end up pulling strips into the nail bed and getting infections in it every now and then. I have an infected thumb at the moment from pulling a dry bit of skin down to the nail bed, I've spent all day draining it periodically and I think it's fine now, I'll have to wait until morning to see if it's settled or comes back overnight

I've tried acrylics, I bite them- and although you can't bite them off, you can definitely mangle them! Also tried bitter tasting things, but still doesn't work. My fingers get so sore I can't pick things up- it's horrible

I am a compulsive nail/skin biter too - I also occasionally pick at my toe nails and have been known to pull the entire nail off (so literally no toenail at all). It is weirdly satisfying.

I suffer from anxiety and have a past of self-harm so I put it down to that.

Yep, I wear acrylics and you can still bite them, bite and pick the nails underneath them, and chew the skin round them. I don't realise I'm doing it. The bitter tasting polish doesn't stop me. I've got better recently, not sure how though.

Cotton gloves sounds like a good idea too, might have to try that.

I hate that I do it, it must look so grim to other people - me constantly putting my nails in or near my mouth, I just don't even know I'm doing it.

I would recommend hypnotherapy/therapy. I'm not completely "cured", but am now conscious of the habit, reasons behind doing it, and have stopped beating myself up about it if I have a relapse. I'm much better overall at "managing" the habit and have some techniques to use if I do. You have to awaken your conscious mind to what you are doing (hope that makes sense).

You do need to think of it like smoking. My epiphany was when I realised my DCs were developing the habit too. Hopefully by taking action myself I have prevented that from taking root.

In the meantime, keep a manicure set handy at all times and if you spot a bit of snagged nail or skin, snip or file it off before you can bite or pick.

Good luck.

OP, I go through periods of the same. Both my Mum and my boss say they can tell my general mood by how much my fingers are bleeding.

Right now, I am pretty unable to bend my right thumb because I've picked all the way around to the back. The skin there is now really thick, so it comes off in sheets, leaving bright pink skin that bleeds if I catch it. I also bite around my nails, right down the sides, and will pull and pull until it hurts and bleeds. My left thumb has a patch of red on the inside on the knuckle - this will start to thicken, then crack, then I'll peel it again. My fingers are currently clear.

The best time for this issue was when I was wearing a plastic retainer after traintrack braces. I used to wear it 27/7. I physically couldn't get purchase on the skin, so stopped biting it. I wonder if a gumshield might help you? Of course, acrylic nails (they don't have to be long) will stop any picking done with other fingers. So the combo of these two might really let it settle and start to heal.

I now focus on mitigating the damage. YY to a previous poster who said that clipping any snags/edges as soon as you notice them really helps. I have also found that those belt-sander tools for pedicures can really help smooth and thin the hard/scabby/cracking skin, providing less purchase for new picking.

I suffer from anxiety and have a past of self-harm so I put it down to that. Anarchy, that comment struck a chord with me.

The pain that so often accompanied pulling nails/skin of fingers was also accompanied by a feeling of release, if that makes sense. Certainly felt comforting .