Nail biting addiction help

[Jemster]

I've been reading on another thread about compulsive behaviour linked to anxiety and how you can get help for it.
I have bitten my nails fof as long as I can remember and I'm sure it is linked to anxiety but I just can't seem to stop and it does feel like a compulsion to do it.

Earlier this year I went to a hen weekend and had gel extensions done. I kept them for a few weeks and mine grew underneath. I had them removed and loved my nails and managed to keep them like that for six months, which is the longest I have ever had nice nails for. My cinfidence in my appearance grew and I really thought I had finally broken the habit.

The last couple of months have been very stressful, my relationship with dh is shaky and we have money issues. I have been so stressed with everything, work, dh, dc, money etc that one week I just bit all my beautuful nails off and back to square one!

Looking at my hands now makes me even more anxious as I am so embarrassed and I try to hide them all the time. They are just awful, I have never seen any so bad on anyone. I feel utterly disgusted and ashamed but I just feel like I can't help doing it when I'm stressed or upset or even nervous. I do feel like it's an addiction I just can't break even though I proved to myself I could stop earlier this year.

I wondered if anyone else has managed to stop this for good and if so how? I feel it affects my confidence massively and I desperately don't want my children to do this or start asking me where my nails are!!

I am wondering if there is anything that can be done to help me break this addiction which I would say is as hard to break as cigarettes or other addictions.

I would really appreciate any advice as I feel so depressed about it. Thank you.

Sorry May not be much help but something just clicked for me, as a serial nail bitter for 34 years I tried everything. I bit my nails till they bled, then one day I was dealing with another colleague who had those false nails that were growing out and they looked terrible, at that moment I just thought I could have beautiful natural nails of my own, and I've never chewed them since. Admittedly I used some of that nasty tasting nail stuff that reminded me if I was ever tempted, but my nails do look beautiful now

Hi there is an app on iTunes for £3.99 called Stop nail biting. The reviews are positive.

There are also other hypnosis ones available on youtube.

I'm not far enough down the line to say I am an ex nail biter as it's only been 3 months. However mine grew after I stopped seeing my Mum (her choice, she has Dementia) and I realised not seeing her removed some low level anxiety I wasn't aware I had.

Don't beat yourself up about it, what's done is done and you need to move forward. What's helped me is having a routine. I massage stuff into cuticles morning and night - olive oil will do the job if you or someone you know has some in a cupboard. Also a cheap hand cream and do this at least twice daily.

I still fiddle with my nails but instead of picking or biting I massage them. DD has had some success with a squidy rubber spider as a distraction, whatever works for you.

Important thing is to take it one day at a time. You can have lovely nails again by Christmas, make today day 1. Mine are doing really well now and my lovely friend is treating me to a manicure next week for my Birthday which I have been looking forward to for weeks and it's spurred me on.

What about keeping this thread going as a kick nail biting thread? My Mum rang me fairly recently and possibly wants me to go round and I'm a bit nervous as things were truly awful in the summer with some dreadful allegations made about me to Social Services. I know I need to be very careful not to lapse and I bet there are some other nail biters who will join.

I was a chronic nail biter for years and years. I bit my nails down to the quick to the point where I have permanently damaged the nail beds and my nails will never now grow completely normally. The smile line is very low down IYKWIM and the free edge does not grow completely straight.

I no longer bite my nails and haven't done for some years. And although I will never have long, strong, gorgeous nails, they of course look better unbitten and with a bit of length.

My experience is that it took me a few goes and a few relapses to finally kick the habit for good. Doesn't mean it will necessarily be the same for you, but that was my experience. I no longer experience the urge to bite my nails but that compulsion took some time to leave.

At first I found that I really had to focus on not biting as I would do it subconsciously. I found taking daily care of my nails with such things as cuticle cream and hand cream helped, as did finding things to do with my hands while sitting and watching the telly e.t.c. Is there a craft you enjoy?

I was terribly disappointed to discover that the damage I had done to my nails was permanent, that they would never grow completely straight and that the smile line would always be half way down the nail bed. But these days I can accept the fact that they just aren't ever going to be my best feature. I can still look reasonably groomed by keeping them shortish, filed into a nice shape, and well moisturised.

And besides, I have a decent figure, good skin, and nice hair. So I just try and stay grateful for what I have got and forget about my nails!

I have lovely nails NOW but I fight against biting them constantly, the urge to rip them off is never far away tbh.

Things that help me is to use coconut oil, big jar in every room and every time you pass scoop some up and massage it into your nails/cuticles. The act of massage helps as it's an 'action' a bit like when I want to pick or bite and the oil keeps them in good condition so they look better.

I'm a life long biter too. I've sort of cracked it in that I now only bite my right hand !

What helped me was filing them, bizarrely. Get yourself a really good glass nail file and however short they are, just keep them smooth, then there's no temptation to just nibble that one little bit..... until you find they are bleeding! Keep filing them smooth, (you could use a colourless varnish too) and after a while you will see white tips appearing. Haven't bitten mine for years now