As cringey as it can be, yes, this is real and it’s a thing.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably struggling with this uncomfortable habit. Now, before going any further, let’s acknowledge the definition first. According to Oxford Dictionaries,
Onychophagia = The action or habit of biting one's nails.
To be even more specific, onychophagia is a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB) which involves the the destruction of finger nails by means of habitual biting. Nail biting usually begins in early childhood — though most commonly happens during adolescence puberty — and may continue through adulthood. Even so, this behaviour and/or habit can be temporary which in most cases decreases or stops with age.
Looking into the Habitual Behaviour of Nail Biting
Considered to be a relatively non-destructive behaviour, nail biting can also develop into a severe and long-term problem. To understand the risks and figure out how to stop nail biting, it’s only fair to know what provokes the behaviour. It begins with the fact that people who chronically bite their nails reports distressful feelings of tension prior to biting, and feelings of relief or pleasure after biting.
Looking into that fact, there are a few conclusion that can be drawn from numerous studies in regards to what may be the cause of onychophagia.
Nail biting can be a sign of emotional or mental stress, where there seems to be a tendency to be triggered in those who are nervous, anxious or feeling down. The habitual behaviour is often associated with anxiety because the act of chewing on nails is a result of looking for a way to cope with the stress. Other than emotional stress, nail biting may also occur when people are bored, hungry or feeling insecure.
From scientific studies, there is no definite proof that said onychophagia is caused genetically. However, it has been discovered that kids, whose parents bite their nails, are more likely to have this kind of behaviour too. There are studies which show that this may occur even if the parents have stopped the behaviour before the child was ever born.
Nail Biting isn’t Without Risks
Obviously, the sure risks of onychophagia clearly would be cosmetic damage of your nails. It can make your nails grow weird, and even possibly they would stop growing the way they should if the tissue around your nails are damaged. As the skin around your nails are damaged, the risk of infection would increase.
Known to be a hotbed for germs, nail biting would put your health at risk and can make you sick. And, with skin damage that possibly cause infection, it would create an easier way for germs to intrude your body. Besides penetrating your system, chronic onychophagia may also spoil your smile by harming your teeth. Common problem that might affect your teeth such as chip, crack, or even it might as well break them.
How to Stop Biting Off My Nails?
Resisting yourself from the temptation of nail biting can be extremely hard, because the behaviour has been in your nature. You might do it compulsively, and the moment you realise it you’re already doing it, chewing on your nails. I know the feeling, I’ve been there and speaking from my experiences as I have been having this behaviour ever since I was like 10 years old (at most), and now I am 27.
There are a few simple ways that MIGHT just help with the problem of onychophagia. The things you can do as an effort to stop the nail biting behaviour are as follows.
- Apply a bitter tasting lacquer to nais, or wear a glove, to help discourage the behaviour.
- Keep your nails neatly trimmed or manicured.
- Keep your hands and/or mouth occupied, like playing a musical instrument or chewing gum, to channel your nail biting energy to something else.
- Find the triggers leading to nail biting and avoid them, such as overstimulation.
- Take healthy steps by being active to manage stress and anxiety.
I’ve tried them and I find that some of them to be helpful — keep in mind, though, what works for some people may not work on others. However, in some cases, treatment with behaviour therapy might be needed to take care of the chronic onychophagia. Lastly, if you’re struggling and really concerned about this issue, it would be best to consult with a doctor or a mental health provider to step in and help you out with a solid plan.