Biting your nails
Discussion
OK, I'm in. Been biting my nails since about 8 I would guess. tried al the nasty flavoured varnishes, but they didn't stop me. I wash my hands a lot, so always need to re-apply.
I also find biting them is related to stress. My worst time for biting is in traffic in the car.
It is disgusting, and does look silly. I think just need reminding of it some times.
Starting operation anti-bite.... now.
I also find biting them is related to stress. My worst time for biting is in traffic in the car.
It is disgusting, and does look silly. I think just need reminding of it some times.
Starting operation anti-bite.... now.
Prizam said:
OK, I'm in. Been biting my nails since about 8 I would guess. tried al the nasty flavoured varnishes, but they didn't stop me. I wash my hands a lot, so always need to re-apply.
I also find biting them is related to stress. My worst time for biting is in traffic in the car.
It is disgusting, and does look silly. I think just need reminding of it some times.
Starting operation anti-bite.... now.
Go for it. Take a before picture right now. it really helped motivate me.I also find biting them is related to stress. My worst time for biting is in traffic in the car.
It is disgusting, and does look silly. I think just need reminding of it some times.
Starting operation anti-bite.... now.
Looking back I reckon i properly started on June the 4th so that’s 6 weeks today. Better than last year.
My thumbs have had the least progress.
I don’t feel like it is difficult per se but it is easy to put your self back.
At the moment I am wondering why I ever did it, my life hasn’t changed at all since I stopped but my hands look better.
My thumbs have had the least progress.
I don’t feel like it is difficult per se but it is easy to put your self back.
At the moment I am wondering why I ever did it, my life hasn’t changed at all since I stopped but my hands look better.
Gareth79 said:
It's still worth considering even today - it might be useful early on as a reminder of what you are doing. "Ugh what's that horrible taste? OHHH!"
Might give it a go. I'm all about the skin nibbling these days too. Found my self doing it on the drive home again. A long train of 35mph everywhere cars and im just sat bord off my arse with no overtaking opportunities.OK - I've been biting my nails since I was young so probably 30-35 years of nibbling.
When I read this thread on here I just sort of stopped. I think it was the comments about hygiene that hit a nerve. So roughly six or so weeks of abstinence for me and counting. The longest I have given up previously is only about a week so six weeks is very good for me.
It may sound minor to some but I'm really chuffed. Anyway this is starting to sound a bit mumsnet so I'm going to do something manly liking errr....building an engine or farting.
When I read this thread on here I just sort of stopped. I think it was the comments about hygiene that hit a nerve. So roughly six or so weeks of abstinence for me and counting. The longest I have given up previously is only about a week so six weeks is very good for me.
It may sound minor to some but I'm really chuffed. Anyway this is starting to sound a bit mumsnet so I'm going to do something manly liking errr....building an engine or farting.
How is everyone getting on?
I think I'm 10 days in now. Slipped up a couple of times at the start but nothing now for quite a while.
The kids being sick lately has probably helped, along with my fear of hygiene. I don't know why I haven't been able to stop like this before. Best I have ever managed before this thread was a couple of days.
I think I'm 10 days in now. Slipped up a couple of times at the start but nothing now for quite a while.
The kids being sick lately has probably helped, along with my fear of hygiene. I don't know why I haven't been able to stop like this before. Best I have ever managed before this thread was a couple of days.
I’m doing alright with the not biting but mine still look s
t. I need to cut them I know... the nailbed seems to be coming back but they still don’t look normal, I need to get the skin towards the knuckle to recede (?) but I’ve tried pushing them back and all it does is hurt! Any pointers? 
t. I need to cut them I know... the nailbed seems to be coming back but they still don’t look normal, I need to get the skin towards the knuckle to recede (?) but I’ve tried pushing them back and all it does is hurt! Any pointers? 
gregs656 said:
Not been so good the last week or so, my right thumb nail is not looking good. I think the best tactic for me is keeping them short and letting the nail beds slowly recover, if they get too long I fidget with them and it all goes down hill.
I fell off the wagon last week, the fiddling led to me 'needing' to trim one back and then it all went to s
t. I am not back to square one though and i just wont let them grow quite as long this time!thebraketester said:
Nice results....
Still no biting here... it’s actually quite easy once you jump the hurdle of breaking the habit. Bit like any habit I suppose
Yes, I was going to post a summary of how it went for me.Still no biting here... it’s actually quite easy once you jump the hurdle of breaking the habit. Bit like any habit I suppose
Probably the first 2-4 weeks was the hardest, but it got gradually easier, moving from wanting to bite, to wanting to tidy rough edges, to just running the nail over the teeth but not really wanting to do anything.
Right now it's what... 10 weeks later and I'm not even putting my fingers anywhere near my mouth. I don't need to do anything, I have just dropped the habit (which is pretty incredible after 40 years!). I *am* running the nails against each other though, but I think going forward just keeping them at a certain length will help.
Some tips for people:
- Buy some emery boards immediately and tidy rough edges as soon as you find them, rather than risking finding yourself biting.
- I used to clip mine which I think I did far more than biting. I made a decision to never trim my fingernails with clippers again - filing only.
- I watched this self- hypnosis video a few times and it's worth a go. The guy has quite an accent which can be a little distracting, but I think it did help me: https://youtu.be/614SEVTUYR
I think for somebody finding it hard then listening to that regularly might be very helpful.
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