The Nail Biting Nuisance:
why we bite our nails and how to prevent it
Nomi Lewkowicz 8'a
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“Stress and boredom are the main nail-biting culprits for most people.”
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The causes:
We tend to bite our nails out of boredom and anxiety in order to keep at least one part of the body occupied as our mind loses interest. There are also emotional triggers that lead to nail biting such as frustration and loneliness. Genes may also contribute. Nail biting may also be caused by OCD, ODD, and ADHD.
The effects:
Nail biting is a BAD habit. Regular nail biting causes damage to the skin around the nail. The area around your nail may bleed and become infected. The bacteria and viruses that entered through the torn skin may pass from your fingers to your face and mouth, infecting them too. Nail biting also ruins your teeth, leaving them weak and poorly aligned. The appearance of bitten nails is not appealing. Infact it can be pretty embarrassing. THat can lead to stress and anxiety which can lead to more nail biting.
1)Paint your nails with bitter tasting nail-biting polish. The gross taste should discourage you from biting. You can use regular polish if you feel like it.
2)Trimming your nails regularly means you will have less of a nail to bite
3)Use different ways to manage your stress such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or just squeezing a stress ball.
4)If you’ve tried these techniques and none of them worked, make your nails inaccessible.
Don’t forget, I’m no doctor. If your fingernail biting goes hand in hand with stress and anxiety you should go to a doctor. Sometime this habit can be a sign of a serious problem.
The treatments:
Usually, children grow out of nail biting. These tips should help if you are still gnawing at your nails:
Source: WebMD