If you are wondering, how do I stop nail biting, this article is for you. Nail biting (aka onychophagia) is a common habit. Though we don’t always recognise it, it is usually triggered by stress. For longtime nail biters, kicking the habit can be tough. But don’t worry! Here are 10 tips to help you stop biting your nails. I help people stop nail biting using hypnotherapy. If you are interested in hypnotherapy in London or online, just get in touch to find out more.
How do I stop nail biting?
Before we jump to our tips, let’s consider, why do people bite their nails? There’s no simple answer here. Of course there’s a psychological component. This is since nail biting is often linked to stress, anxiety, or boredom. But always keep in mind that everyone’s different. Some people might just like the way it feels, that sense of satisfaction you aim to get. While others bite their nails when they’re having a bad day. It usually boils down to your unique triggers.
As I tell London hypnotherapy clients, never forget that nail biting is very common. According to a 2016 case study, up to 33 percent of kids and approximately 45 percent of teens bite their nails. And according to a research review from the same year, habitual nail biting affects up to 30 percent of the population across all age groups. So, if you’re an adult nail biter, you’re not alone.
How do I stop nail biting – Is nail biting unhealthy?
What are the short-term and long-term effects of biting your nails? It is generally considered harmless to bite your nails once in a while. But problems can arise when nail biting becomes compulsive or chronic. Common symptoms of long-term nail biting include:
- oral infections
- inflamed gums
- wonky nail growth
- distortion of the nail bed
- chipped or notched teeth
Just remember, habits don’t form overnight. So, be patient with yourself and don’t give up. It might take time, but eventually you can find the best method for you. As mentioned, I offer hypnotherapy to break this habit.
How to stop nail biting? Here’s our list of tips
To answer, how do I stop nail biting, scroll down to read our longer answers. Here’s the quick list:
- Learn how habits work.
- Trim your nails.
- Get regular manicures.
- Use bitter nail polish.
- Cover your nails with gloves or Band-Aids.
- Distract yourself.
- Focus on one finger at a time.
- Understand your triggers.
- Set a realistic timeline for quitting.
- Get support – Hypnotherapy is an ideal option.
Ok, let’s look at those each, one by one. how do I stop nail biting, you ask, let’s find out. Here’s our 10 tips on how to stop nail biting.
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Be patient with the process
As mentioned, for lots of folks, nail biting is a habit. Habits can become a mainstay in our daily lives, which is why they’re so hard to break. As I tell hypnotherapy clients, it’s important to be patient with the process. Don’t give up even if you slip up. A 2020 study found that willpower wasn’t as important as consistency when trying to reach long-term goals. How do I stop nail biting? Stay with it, it takes time.
Also, it’s OK to treat yourself. In a 2018 study, researchers found that the promise or perception of a reward is a big help to habit-formation.
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Trim your nails
If your nails get too long, they can become tempting targets for biting. By keeping your nails trimmed short, there’s less for you to nibble on. Plus, it will help you replace a habit you don’t like with one that you do. Keeping your nails neat and tidy counts as self-care, and we’re here for it.
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Make them too pretty to bite
You can DIY a manicure at home or head to your local salon. If your nails look great, then you might be less inclined to bite them. How do I stop nail biting, people ask and I say that if you’re feeling fancy, give gel a whirl. Gel or acrylic manicures are harder to bite through than your actual nail. As a bonus, they also tend to last longer.
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Use a nasty-tasting polish
You may have already tried this one. So many hypnotherapy for nail biting clients tell me they have do so. There are many nail polishes on the market that’s designed to taste nasty. The idea is that if your nails taste terrible, you won’t want to put them in your mouth. Just simply apply the varnish like you would a regular polish, and voilà, nailing will literally leave a foul taste in the month.
When people ask how do I stop nail biting, I tell them that will horrible tasting polish, the downside is that some of these varnishes contain ingredients like formaldehyde. That’s nasty stuff. It’s super toxic when ingested. There’s also a chance it can do damage when applied topically. So, try to opt for a nontoxic brand. You’ll get the same results without the potential side effects. If you have tried nasty tasking polish, and if our other tips don’t work, consider hypnotherapy for nail biting. Session sin London and online.
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Cover up your nails
Wrap your fingers with Band-Aids or wear some gloves. It might sound silly, but it creates an extra barrier between your nails and mouth. This buys you an extra moment to consider what you’re doing.
Just note that this approach isn’t foolproof. If the urge to bite is strong enough, you can easily remove your anti-bite gear. So, this method might work best when combined with another strategy, like the yucky tasting polish we just mentioned.
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Distract yourself
Keeping your hands busy can keep your mind off nail biting. When you feel the urge to bite your nails, try to do something else instead. Maybe you can break out the old fidget spinner or try your hand at journaling. Sometimes even a stick of gum can do the trick. As long as it’s a healthy distraction, it might be helpful. So, how do I stop nail biting? Find other ways to do what nail biting was meant to do.
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Take things one finger at a time
Unfortunately going cold turkey tends to be tough and maybe even impossible. But you can break it down, step by step. You might be better off taking things one finger at a time. Start with your thumbnails, for example. Then, once you’ve gone a week without biting them, branch out to your pinkies. This can make quitting much more manageable. Slowly, slowly you’ll get there.
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Get to the root of the problem
Studies show that nail biting is often triggered by stress or anxiety. But it may also be the result of boredom or concentrating on a tough problem. Either way, understanding why you bite your nails can help you stop.
Make a list of situations where you feel the urge to bite. Then, think about what you can do to either avoid these situations or handle them more easily. With hypnotherapy clients, this is often a key part of our work together. We look at the true reason why you bite your nails. Why this habit persists and how to kick it.
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Give yourself time to quit
Nail biting can be a hard habit to break. That’s why it’s super important you give yourself a realistic timeline to stop. You might be able to kick the habit in a few days, but it could also take a few months… or longer. All of this is natural and is nothing to be ashamed or worried about.
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How do I stop nail biting – try hypnotherapy
As outlined here there are many ways to approach this annoying and unhealthy habit. I have helped countless people answer the question, how do I stop nail biting, by using hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy is safe and enjoyable. I hope that very soon this old habit will be a thing of the past for you. I offer hypnotherapy for nail biting sessions in London and online. This could be what really puts a stop to this habit for you.
