8yr old Ds biting skin off his fingers until they bleed

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Not nail side, the other side. He takes quite a few layers off until they bleed and then tells me he tripped over. I know he is biting them though because i've seen him.

I've asked him why he is doing it and told him to stop, but he said he doesn't know why and he can't stop. He said it does hurt though.

I can't really put anything foul tasting on them because it would sting too much.

Is there something bothering him? I am a picker / biter and always know when I'm stressed because I start picking something- its a 'thing' with me but is always worse when I'm really stressing it might not be conscious on his part and he might not be making the connection between the two, so sound him out gently.

I'd put the foul tasting stuff on, because it will only sting once and allow his skin to heal. DS1 does it, although he has ASD, and I do put the no bite on when it gets bad. The first time I did it he didn't complain of stinging, and he does absolutely trash his fingers. Now I only have to threaten it.

He mostly does it when he's stressed, so trying to find your ds's source of stress and eliminating it would definitely help

Yeh probably. He is having issues at school at the moment, and having anger issues. He is seeing camhs on 28th Nov and I am trying to get school invloved, and hopefully eventually get him assessed for a couple fof things.

Any tips on stopping him ??

I do it and always have. There's no reason, no stress, just something I do. Now I'm older, I'm more aware of it as a behaviour I can choose not to do, and consequently rarely DO do anymore.
I was reading about it the other day, and whichever expert it was (can't remember where i read it) said not to worry about it or make it a "thing" or it'll just get worse (same as nail biting).

Hmm, not sure what i can do to help him atm. I am reasuring him that we will get things sorted in and out of school, but he has not faith in the school as they don't tend to stick to what they say.

He thinks he is thick and can't do anything right.

I have just enrolled him in a drama group to boost his confidence, and thankfully he loves that.

I do this, starting on the nail side. I do it when I'm stressed about things.

Give him something else to fidget with or fiddle with. I have a pot of cuticle butter that I rub into my fingers which I find helps, or I knit.
Is there anything he does or is interested in that could be an alternative to the biting?

You could try giving him some bendy K'nex to fiddle and chew? Or something similar. ds1 loves the stuff, he chews it like a dog/

Ummm can't think of anything that would occupy his hands much. He is getting a ds for xmas though so that would work a bit.

He has lego too so could use that.

Ahh I am sure we have a bag of kinnex that someone gave us. Will have to dig it out.

i do that occasionally.

its like sying to someone -stop biting your nails/stop smoking....

its a habit and you going on about it - in any form isn't helping - ignore it imo

Yes you may have a point custy. I bit my nails up until I was 27, and when I did stop it wasn't because someone had told me to.

He is quite a troubled little lad atm and I don't want to add to his troubles.

I do it, always have, although I no longer do it to the point of drawing blood as I used to! Not stress related in my case, just a bad but very satisfying habit.
My mum tried
rewards for stopping (didn't work);
gloves at night (didn't work);
reminding me when she saw me doing it (didn't work);
foul tasting stuff (didn't work).

So...no advice, but just wanted to say that it might not be a sign of deep inner turmoil, if that helps.