How Can I Stop Biting My Nails?

I still remember what my 3rd grade teacher said to one little classmate..."You could plant radishes under those nails!" and I've never considered having a "dirt snack". That was 52 years ago and my mother-in-law stopped a life-long habit of nail biting after hear that.

Hello,
I always wanted to stop biting my nails too. I tired the easy acrylic way but that was just painful and bothersome (not to mention expensive) What really got me to stop was an idea from my grandmother. Just try to make one nail pretty. That's all. Just keep your mouth away from that one nail and wait awhile. There's no pressure and no bad feelings if you falter and bite one of the others. Soon you'll see how pretty your nails can be. I did and then I realized how much I liked how pretty that nail was and I started not to touch the entire hand. Then both hands. :) Now they're really pretty. (Also a smart girl told me to keep a nail file wit me at all times so I can even out my falters or snags).

I stopped by chewing gum. Also coincided with quitting smoking so the gum chewing helped with 2 things!

Here's one of the things I learned, everything is a choice and you do have control over your decisions and choices. You can choose not to bite your nails today, then again tomorrow, and then every day.

Yes, you may choose to bite them again, fall off the wagon, so to speak, but you have control and can continue on your positive path.

It is kind of like a 12 step program. Once decision, one day at a time! It works!! Prayers and blessings!

You have a choice to make for yourself and it is only you who can make this choice in life. It might help you if you go to the beauty supply store and buy a set of fake nails and put them on. See how they look on you, how do they make you feel, and most of all do you like the way your hands and nails look? If this is what you want and it makes you feel good inside then keep them on for a few days or even a week. See how this goes for you. Each time you go to bite your nails take a look at how pretty the nails look and why would you want to destroy them. This could be one way to help you stop bitting your nails.

Start polishing your nails, no matter how short they are. See if that doesn't make biting them less satisfying. Put on a new coat of polish every day, even if it's clear. Clear will be less noticeable than color, and after a few weeks, your new nails will be pretty enough to use a nice color. You don't have to have long nails.

Find something else, maybe chewing gum, to chew on or suck on hard candies.

First of all this is not a choice, it is an obsession or addiction like any other and definitely not your fault. After a stay in hospital t the age of 3 or 4, I bit my nails for over 50 years and couldn't stop no matter what. I finally managed to stop almost by accident, by finding something else to do with my hands. I started crocheting and cross-stitching - kept my fingers busy doing something else and out of my mouth. My nails were weakened after so many years of biting, but now almost 20 years later I can grow long, strong nails. The urge to bite is sometimes still there but it's easier to control now. Good luck and don't let anyone shame you into thinking it's your fault!

There are a lot of nail biting polishes (some people call these nibble inhibitors) available from Wall-Mart type stores, drug stores (ask a pharmacist if you need help) that are especially designed to help people break the habit of biting their nails. These work by placing a very bitter taste when you touch your nail to your mouth.

Placing band-aids over the nails during the day is also a good deterrent. Remove at night and reapply in the morning or after a shower.

You are not alone with a habit like this but there are probably trigger points that cause you to continue to do this so maybe you could try to keep track of what was going on when this happens (many times you may not even be aware you are biting your nails).

Here is a link that might shed more light on how to stop:

www.top10homeremedies.com/.../stop-nail-biting.html

I had a really bad nail biting problem. I would bite them to the point they would bleed. I stopped biting them by buying the press on nails, then when I would go to bite them I couldn't anymore. After several packages of press ons it stopped my biting habit. Hope this helps, good luck.

I stopped biting my nails because I got an infection and had to get it squeezed professionally at the doctors. It hurt so bad (the infection) and that made me stop. You can watch YouTube videos and it'll make you cringe to stop!

There is actually a product that you can brush on your nails that tastes bitter. It is supposed to help stop the habit. A friend of mine broke her habit by brushing on hot pepper juice. As soon as her nails got into her mouth, it burned and she would pull it back out. However, you have to reapply often, and watch that you don't get it into your eyes.
If you are doing it from anxiety or nerves, talk to your doctor. A small dose of xanax might help take the edge off.

I used to be a nail biter then I got an infection and had to get pus removed and I stopped bitting my nail since.

Might be gross to say but you can watch YouTube like nail infection from biting nails or something and it might help you stop altogether.

Some other ideas I can think of:

• - You can use press on nails
• - Cut your nails short
• - Get your nails professionally done
• - Fiddle with something else other than your nails
• - Chew on gum, or hard candy something else than your nails.

I used to bite my nails and stopped when my sister got engaged. Even though engagement was a long way off for me, I realized that rings do not look pretty on hands with bitten nails. That got me to stop.

The word that caught my attention was anxiety. Have you told an adult about this? Anxiety is so common and is something that can be managed pretty easily for most people.

Anxiety is so common and affects people of all ages. It just is and it can be managed and controlled.

Please consider finding an adult who you trust and talk to him or her about what is going on and develop a plan for ways to manage things. A parent, a grandparent, aunt or uncle, a teacher, your school counselor, a religious person (priest, rabbi etc.) Find someone you trust and tell the person what is going on. It is easy. You can do this!!!

There are so many options and many of them have simple things to do...like learning mindfulness, having an app to help you count your blessings, developing prayers to help you through, talking to a friend, so many options. There are many, many things that work! I promise you there are lots of solutions to choose from and hopefully you can find one that works for you quickly!

I will send up lots of prayers that you can work with someone you trust to resolve this and the nail biting will become less and less of a way to manage your anxiety.

Post back with an updates so I know you are OK!! Hugs!!!

I was so glad to read Pghgirl's response to your message as I also believe anxiety seems to be your biggest problem so I hope you will follow her suggestions and get the help you need.

Sixteen should be a fun time in your life but can be full of new things/problems coupled with older unresolved problems that can become overwhelming.
Nail biting can be a problem and can be embarrassing but it is probably a minor part of your overall well being. Concentrate on getting appropriate help and then you may be able to stop this cycle of nail biting.

Seek help and do not think that you are "different" or that you are alone with problems like this as there are many 13-18 year olds in the same situation of being anxious about all sorts of things in their lives.
Just be sure you are one of the ones that seek help so you can smile and look forward to feeling good everyday.
Pretty nails will follow.