Onychophagia, or nail-biting habit, is a common obsession that has a strong effect on people of all age groups, from children to older ones. Nail biting habit seem nontoxic, but if the chronic nail biting stage comes, then the negative impacts will have a strong impact on physical and mental wellness. The condition is curable if the right strategies and methods can be applied to overcome it.
Understanding the causes of Nail Biting habit
The causes might be psychological factors or habitual triggers that indulge this behavioral condition.
Psychological Factors
There are different factors that act as the basic psychological factors that initiate this behavioral condition, like
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Boredom
- Perfectionism
There are also some specific response conditions in which people turn towards nail biting habit.
- Way to cope with negative emotions
- Alleviate feelings of tension
Habitual Triggers
Secondly, there are some triggers that cause the nail biting habit, such as:
- Boredom
- Watching TV
- Sitting in traffic
In the treatment of this behavior, it is very important to first understand and identify the triggering factors.
The Effects of Nail Biting Habit
- Physical Effects
Nail biting can affect people in different ways by creating different physical illnesses, such as
- Damaged nails
- Torn cuticles
- Increased risk of infection
If the situation reaches chronic nail biting habit, some other negative impacts can appear, such as
- Teeth misalignment
- Damage to the surrounding skin
2. Emotional Impact
Nail biting not only affects physical health but also mental or emotional well-being. The habit takes over the personality of an individual and makes them feel embarrassed to be nail-biting in front of other people. To avoid this nail-biting habit, people feel self-conscious, which leads to feelings of shame and less self-confidence.
5 Best Strategies to Stop Nail Biting
Identify Triggers of Nail Biting Habit
Always pay attention to the cause of the nail biting, whether it is psychological or emotional. Once the reason is identified, it will be easy to develop a strategy to avoid this habit. For every triggering factor, different methods can be applied to stop nail biting.
Exchange the Habit with a Healthier Option
If you redirect your nail biting habit to some other behavior, then the habit can be avoided. So go toward healthier and nontoxic choices when you must substitute the nail-biting behavior. The alternative behaviors are:
- Chewing gum
- Squeezing a stress ball
- Keep your hands busy with a fidget toy
Follow Stress Management Techniques
The nail biting habit is directly linked to stress, anxiety, and depression. If a person wants to avoid this habit, they have to follow stress management methods such as
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
- Yoga
These techniques are very effective in lowering the stress levels that automatically make the nail-biting situation better.
Maintain Your Nails
If the nails are well-groomed, the chance of nail biting will automatically decrease. So always keep your nails:
- Trimmed
- Short
- Clean
- Apply a bitter-tasting nail polish
- Apply a nail-biting deterrent
These practices will always make the situation better, irrespective of the triggering factor.
Seek Assistance from Friends and Family
The role of family and friends has strong potential to avoid this situation. So, never hesitate to discuss this with family and friends and get therapeutic support from them. The motivation, accountability, and engagement support of your family and friends can help you cure the nail-biting behavior very smoothly and shortly.
Added Tips for Success
- Be Tolerant and Persistent: It is always a time-consuming process to avoid or break any habit, so always be patient and persistent if you want to have ultimate success. Set your goal and make continuous efforts to achieve the desired results.
- Pay Yourself to Proceed: The set goals must be split into small steps to avoid nail-biting behavior. On achieving every milestone, you must celebrate with a small reward for yourself. It will keep you motivated and help you continue your efforts until the end of the nail-biting behavior.
Conclusion
It is concluded that nail biting habits are strongly associated with different psychological and emotional triggers that affect both physical and mental well-being. Understanding the root cause of the nail-biting habit can help develop strategies to cure this condition effectively. To avoid nail biting, always maintain well-groomed nails. Stress management techniques, along with support from friends and family, can help control and stop this habit so the individual can have a confident lifestyle and high self-esteem.
FAQs
Is nail-biting an indicator of an extreme psychological crisis?
There are some underlined psychological issues, such as stress and depression, strongly linked with nail-biting habit that can cause mental health problems, but not too many intensive issues. However, this habit causes vital distress in daily life, so it must be kept in mind to have some therapeutic support from healthcare consultants.
Can nail biting cause permanent harm to the nails?
Nail biting can have a serious impact on nail health, such as the weakening and thinning of nails. The chance of viral and bacterial infection can also be increased through nail biting, as the nail transfers these infections through oral passage. If proper nail care is taken and attempts are made to avoid this habit, then nail biting and its impacts can be reversed.
Are there any materials available to stop nail-biting?
Obviously, yes. Now, many products regarding stopping nail biting are available on the market. There are many nail deterrents and bad-tasting nail polishes available in stores that taste unpleasant upon nail biting. In this way, the nail-biting habit has been significantly stopped.
How long does it take to stop the nail-biting habit?
There are many factors that can define the duration of avoiding nail biting habits. It varies from person to person according to motivation and the severity of the habit. Consistent efforts are required to completely avoid this behavior. Some people can complete it in a few days or weeks, and some require several months to go.
Can kids develop nail biting?
Yes, in children, it is very common to have this habit, which eventually develops with age. Sometime, with maturity, by understanding stress and anxiety, it is helpful to avoid this behavior. The more effective strategy is to provide guidance and support to children, so they understand and reverse the situation as early as possible.
