{"id":8298,"date":"2019-07-17T06:06:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T06:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=8298"},"modified":"2021-04-20T20:29:52","modified_gmt":"2021-04-20T20:29:52","slug":"14-tips-to-break-the-habit-of-nail-biting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-tips-to-break-the-habit-of-nail-biting\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Tips to Break the Habit of Nail Biting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Biting nails is a habit that many people have and wish that they could change. But since it is such an automatic thing, it can be difficult to modify your behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason why people bite their nails is difficult to pin down. Some researchers think it is actually due to genetics, while others attributed to anxiety and depression. Whatever the cause of nail-biting, there is no doubt that you should try to stop it if you can. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one thing, your nails are never going to look good as long as they are ragged and chewed. For another, you can actually do damage by biting your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can tear up the cuticle or chew the nail down further that it is supposed to go which results in a painful condition the lasts until the nail has grown over the sensitive spots. There are also germs embedded in your nails that can get into your mouth if you bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Keep Your Nails Short<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways is to keep your nails <\/a>short. If your nails are short, then you are going to have a hard time biting them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have nails that have grown out, it is quite easy to bite them to trim them down to where they should be. But if you always keep them trimmed below where you would normally bite them, then you are going to have a much easier time avoiding biting because they will never be at that level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, keeping your nails short is somewhat of a chore because there is really nothing to remind you that you need to trim them with clippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Get Expensive Manicures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are able to pay for expensive manicures, then this is definitely something you should be considering. When you have an expensive manicure, your nails come out perfect. They last that way as long as they don\u2019t start growing out again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they do start growing out again, you can go back and have another manicure<\/a>. But the real benefit of having an expensive manicure the makes your nails look great at all times is that you are reluctant to chew them because you know you will be messing up this work of art that someone has created on your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone will have the budget to have an expensive manicure done, but the money that you spend on the manicure may prevent you from biting your nails and ruining such a stellar job. You will have to decide how much you want to spend and how far between manicures you want to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Use Hypnosis or Subliminal Messages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hypnosis <\/a>can be a really effective tool when it comes to breaking habits like biting nails. Hypnosis is when you allow someone to put you in a trancelike state and then speak directly to your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is where all the decisions happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you allow someone to speak your subconsciously find through hypnosis, the lessons that are learned there and the beliefs and thoughts that come from it are much stronger. You may have to visit a clinical hypnotist in order to use this therapeutic tool, but if you do not have the budget for that, then you may want to consider subliminal messaging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, with how often we use or tablets, computers, and phones, there are programs and applications that will flash subliminal messages across your screen that sticks in our minds. Subliminal messages only last a fraction of a second, but your subconscious mind will notice them and remember them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Use \u201cAnti-Bite\u201d Nail Polish<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is also nail polish on the market right now which will help you avoid biting your nails. This nail polish<\/a> is manufactured with some kind of substance that makes your nails bitter to the touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means that when you start biting them, you will immediately feel this bitter taste and you will not want to continue. Of course, nail polish is mostly for women because very few men wear it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even for men, there is the clear nail polish that will not give away the fact that you are wearing and that has the same potential to prevent you from biting your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do not want to buy commercially, then you can create your own anti-bite nail cover by using hot sauce or some other substance that you will not want to continue biting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Lower Your Anxiety Levels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you can lower your anxiety <\/a>levels, then you have a good chance of keeping yourself from biting your nails as well. Many experts believe that it is anxiety levels that cause you to bite your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that is the case, then lowering your anxiety levels will definitely help. However, you also have to remember this is a habit, and even if you are not currently experiencing anxiety, you may stop the propensity to bite your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it is a good idea to try several of the solutions presented in this article in order to achieve the results that you want. Everyone should try to lower their anxiety because it can raise blood pressure and cause all kinds of health problems, but it may not be enough to get you to stop biting your nails. However, it is still recommended if you can do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Keep Your Hands Busy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You should also try to keep your hands busy if you can. Keeping your hands busy will prevent you from automatically biting your nails. Most people report that their nail biting is an automatic activity when they have had the habit <\/a>themselves. That means that you automatically start to chew on your nails even if you are not necessarily stressed or have anything else going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when you keep your hands busy, you are also able to calm yourself as well as prevent yourself from chewing on your nails. There are lots of ways that you can keep your hands busy. One of the tools out there that is good for idle hands as the fidget spinner. This allows you to play with something while you are watching TV or doing other activities that do not require your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Keep Your Mouth Busy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition, you want to keep her mouth busy. This is actually even more effective in keeping your hands busy, because if there is something in your mouth, then you are going to have a really hard time biting your nails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of things that you can do to keep you busy. You can use little candies or mints<\/a>, or you can keep a beverage nearby that you are always sipping on. Some people even chew on pens or find other objects to keep occupied with. You can even go with snacks while you are watching television or doing other activities that do not require your hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the most effective method is to use candy or gum to keep your mouth occupied. As long as there is something constantly in your mouth, you will have a really hard time trying to bite your nails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Behavioral Therapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Behavioral Therapy<\/a> may also help with biting your nails. Behavioral therapy is when you reinforce negative behavior with negative results and reinforce positive behavior with positive results. So, for example, if you have allowed your nails to grow out to a certain length without biting them, then you can reward yourself with something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might be a special dessert, a night out on the town or just about anything. But there is also negative reinforcement. This is where you might do something like strap a rubber band to your wrist and every time you notice yourself starting to chew on your nails then you snap the rubber band hard so that it is painful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is negative reinforcement. This tells you that your behavior is not correct. While this may not be the most effective method out there for preventing you from chewing on your nails, especially since it is an automatic thing, it can be effective for some people. You will have to decide for yourself which method to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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