Any tips on how to stop biting nails ?

robowen

I want to stop but can't.

Has anyone tried hypnosis ??

A friend tried it for quitting smoking and it worked for him.

What about nail biting ??

Please don't suggest the paint on stuff....It doesn't work. You get a taste for the stuff after a while, even though it's repulsive.

rob

Becles

I used to bite my nails as a child. When I got to my teenage years and was experimenting with make-up, I was told I wasn't allowed nail varnish as my nails were too short and messy. The lure of nail varnish helped me give up biting them. Don't suppose that scenario will help!

Is there another way you could reward yourself though. Like stop biting for a month and buy yourself a book or CD or something?

Toothsmith

Hi Rob,

For someone with a job like yours, could you not try visualising what you do with your hands and some of the places they end up.

You'd need real determination to carry on after that!

robowen

Toothsmith wrote:

Hi Rob,

For someone with a job like yours, could you not try visualising what you do with your hands and some of the places they end up.

You'd need real determination to carry on after that!

Fortunately I wear rubber gloves for that sort of work, so my brain knows the hands are clean.

anyway, even after going all day with oily dirty hands I make up for 'lost time' when my hands are clean.

I need something subliminal. :think:

I might try recording my own sleep tape and play it when I go to bed.
I could try a loop recording of something. :think:

any ideas ??
answers on a postcard !

rob

Jay-Jay_4

You could put plasters on all your fingertips. I know I know...it's a bit much!

If you file and buff your nails (however short) it helps you to 'want' to keep them looking nice. You have to do it daily but if you file away any rough bits and snip aways any bits of skin then you won't be tempted to nibble at them. A buffer makes your nails look really healthy and shiny (I've done my husbands and he loves it )

It's easier for women though, I'm a nail biter but at the moment have lovely long nails because I got some plain strengthening nail varnish and constantly have a file available so I file off any straggly bits before I can go to town biting them. I keep coloured nail varnish on so that I can 'see' if I've been nibbling.

macchicken

Replace one evil with another!
Chewing gum, im telling thats how is stoped!
Something becomes habit after 21 days, let us know how you get on.

overide

I have a habit of doing this at work. I use a PC most of the day and would sit with my mouse in my right hand and my fingers on my left hand in my mouth! Unfortunatley the only advice I can give is to use will power. I try and keep it in my mind not to bite my nails. I still do every now and again when working but stop staright away as soon as I realise.

I think you can get some stuff to paint on your nails that tastes horrible, that might stop it.

flea72

Hi, my name is Flea, and im a nailaholic. i have now been bite free for 6m

i dont think there is anything that can make you stop, you just have to wait for that day, where it finally clicks and you feel that you dont have to bite them anymore

i still have the odd nibble, if one of my nails breaks, i just cant stop myself biting it right down to the skin, but then the willpower kicks back in, as i want that nail to match back up with the longer ones

hardest things is, never having had to use a nailfile for 33yrs, means i dont have a clue when it comes to shaping and manicures, so another way to stop me biting them, is to go and have a professional manicure once a month

i too thought about hypnosis for it, but decided that biting them wasnt really that bad, so never bothered

dont really know what to suggest, i know what youre going through, i would so love to bite mine now, i dont think the urge, will ever go away

nmh flea

Smudge32

Yeah willpower only I think on this one. I managed to stop for my wedding day so they looked nice for the photos but when I got back from the honeymoon, they all got bitten off again!

Savvy_Sue

Catching up after my holidays. Does anything in this previous discussion help?

Mumstheword

I'm a nail biter, and when I decide to stop I allow myself to bite the nails on my little fingers only, until the others grow out a bit. Once the others grow a bit and are filed, I realise how ugly the 2 little ones look and leave them alone.
My 2 little finger nails are currently a coule of mm long, think I started to let them grow about a week or two ago.

You also need to remind yourself that you are not stopping biting, you are starting letting grow!!

Mumxx