What is nail biting?
Nail biting, or onychophagia, might start as a simple habit but can quickly become a chronic behaviour. Often driven by an unconscious need to fix perceived imperfections, it can lead to damage to your nails, skin, and even hair. Over time, this habit can cause physical discomfort and emotional distress, including shame, anxiety, and low self-esteem. In severe cases, nail biting can result in bleeding, infections, pain, and scarring.
Causes and Triggers
Stress and Anxiety: Nail biting is commonly linked to stress and anxiety, often starting in childhood and sometimes continuing into adulthood. For many, it becomes a way to cope with feelings of nervousness, boredom, or frustration.
Health Implications: Severe nail biting goes beyond cosmetic issues. It can damage the nail beds, leading to pain and infections. It also increases the risk of transferring bacteria from your nails to your mouth, potentially causing further health problems.
Managing and Treating Nail Biting
Keep Nails Trimmed: Keeping your nails short and manicured can reduce the temptation to bite.
Use Bitter-Tasting Nail Polish: Applying a special nail polish with a bitter taste can deter you from biting your nails.
Talk Therapies and Hypnotherapy: If stress or anxiety triggers your nail biting, talk therapies or Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) can be effective in addressing the root causes and helping you manage the habit.
Seeking Help
If nail biting affects your quality of life, it’s worth consulting a healthcare provider. Professional guidance and treatment can help you manage and overcome this habit, improving your overall wellbeing.
Nail-biting is thought to be the most common of the body-focused repetitive behaviours
Up to 45% of teenagers bite their nails
Approximately 25% of young adults in the UK continue to bite their nails as a way to cope with stress and anxiety
36% of UK office workers admit to biting their nails during work hours, citing stress and tight deadlines as common triggers
What causes it?
Nail biting can develop for various reasons, often connected to stress, anxiety, or specific mood disorders.
Genetic and Neurological Factors: Nail biting can run in families, suggesting a genetic link. It’s also associated with neurological conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety.
Childhood Habits: Many people start biting their nails in childhood, often alongside other behaviours like thumb-sucking. This can persist into adulthood, sometimes tied to conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Environmental Triggers: Stress, life changes, or significant emotional events can trigger nail biting, making it a coping mechanism for managing discomfort.
What drives people to stop nail biting?
Nail biting can have a range of social and health consequences that motivate people to quit.
Social Impacts: Nail biting can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment, particularly if it causes visible damage to your nails or skin. This can make you self-conscious in social situations.
Health Risks: Beyond its effect on appearance, nail biting can cause dental issues, gum problems, and infections like paronychia. The habit also increases your risk of developing warts and ingrown nails.
Oral Health: Nail biting can damage your teeth, leading to chipping or cracking. In some cases, it can even contribute to jaw problems or bad breath.
Encouragement for Change: Recognising these impacts can be a strong motivator to stop. By addressing the habit, you can improve both your physical health and social interactions, boosting your overall wellbeing.
How can people break the habit?
Breaking the nail-biting habit requires a combination of practical steps and support.
Practical Steps: Keep your nails trimmed and well-manicured to reduce the temptation to bite. Applying bitter-tasting nail polish can also help discourage the habit.
Gradual Reduction: Start by focusing on not biting one set of nails at a time. This gradual approach can make the process feel less overwhelming.
Hygiene and Oral Health: Maintaining good hygiene is key. Regularly clean your nails to reduce the risk of infection, and pay attention to your oral health as well.
Support and Rewards: Seek support from friends or family who can help keep you motivated. Rewarding yourself for small successes along the way can also help reinforce your progress.
Technological Aids: There are mobile apps designed to help you track your progress, set reminders, and break the habit. These tools can be a useful addition to your strategy.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) offers a tailored approach to managing body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs) like nail biting. It helps break the cycle by addressing underlying triggers and guiding you towards healthier alternatives.
Hypnosis and Deep Relaxation: During hypnotherapy sessions, you’ll be guided into a deeply relaxed state. This allows you to access your subconscious and focus on relaxation techniques that reduce anxiety and manage stress, which are often triggers for nail biting.
Reducing Triggers and Enhancing Wellbeing: Hypnotherapy helps reduce the chances of triggering a BFRB response. It also promotes a sense of calm in everyday life, equipping you with tools to manage stress and encourage healthier responses.
Personalised Treatment: Each session of hypnotherapy is personalised to fit your specific needs, ensuring that the therapy supports your growth and healing process.
Benefits of Hypnotherapy:
- Interrupt unhelpful urges by addressing underlying triggers.
- Achieve deep relaxation to reinforce positive habits.
- Reduce anxiety and stress, lowering the compulsion to bite your nails.
- Enhance overall wellbeing by fostering a sense of calm and security.
A Comprehensive Approach: Hypnotherapy provides a comprehensive approach to overcoming nail biting by focusing on both your mental and emotional wellbeing. Combined with practical steps and professional guidance, hypnotherapy can help you break the habit and improve your quality of life.
Taking the First Step
Seeking help through hypnotherapy is a significant step towards reclaiming control over your habits. With the right support, you can break free from nail biting and move towards a healthier, more fulfilling future.
Our Nail Biting Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
