Onychophagia, another name for nail biting, is a practice that manicure experts recommend you to stop. It’s a behavior that can occur in both kids and adults, and it’s frequently accompanied by feelings of stress, boredom, and anxiety. Although it’s a frequent practice, biting your nails can be bad for your health and self-esteem. This article will look at the psychology of nail biting and provide advice on how to break the practice.
Explanations for nail biting and advice from nearest nail salon on how to stop
Nail biting is seen as a type of repeated activity that is body-focused (BFRB). Body-focused repetitive behaviors, or BFRBs, include nail biting, skin picking, and hair pulling. These actions are frequently linked to psychiatric problems such as anxiety, stress, and others.
According to research, toddlers and teenagers frequently bite their nails, with up to 60% of kids and 45% of teens admitting to doing so. The incidence of nail biting in adults is thought to be between 20 and 30 percent. In light of this data, Maby has published Mr.Tran Quang-approved advice forums and blogs on the topic of the repercussions of nail biting. If you’re looking for the nearest nail salon on Maby, they’ll have resources to help you stop biting your nails.
The psychological variables that contribute to nail biting are complicated and can be influenced by a number of things, such as:
Stress and Anxiety: Nail biting is frequently linked to feelings of anxiety and stress. Those who are apprehensive or stressed out may start chewing their nails as a coping mechanism. The stressor can be momentarily diverted from and temporarily relieved by nail biting.
Nail biting is another behavior that is connected to perfectionism. High standards for oneself may make someone more prone to nail biting as a coping mechanism for the pressure and anxiety they experience.
Boredom: Biting one’s nails may become a habit as a result of being bored. Those who are bored may start chewing their nails to pass the time and keep their hands busy.
Genetics: According to research, nail biting may have a genetic basis. Research has indicated that nail biting tends to run in families, which raises the possibility that the habit may be genetically predisposed.
The Bad Effects of Nail Biting
Even though it might seem like a harmless practice, biting your nails can be harmful to your health and self-esteem. Here are a few instances of how nail biting can be harmful:
Damaged Nails: Biting your nails can cause bleeding, infections, and other issues by damaging your cuticles and nails. The nails may also weaken, brittle, and become more prone to breaking as a result of frequent biting.
Oral Health Issues: Nail biting can cause gum disease and dental issues like broken or chipped teeth. Moreover, it can spread germs and bacteria into the mouth, causing illnesses.
Social stigma: Those who bite their nails may experience stigma from others because it is perceived as a bad habit. Shame, embarrassment, and low self-esteem may result from this.
How to Quit Biting Your Nail
There are a few methods you might try if you want to quit biting your nails. Here are some pointers to assist you in breaking the habit:
Determine Triggers: To begin, determine the situations or people that make you bite your nails. When you’re anxious or bored, do you bite your nails more frequently? If you are aware of what makes you start biting your nails, you can focus on developing more effective coping mechanisms.
Keep Your Nails Trimmed: Maintaining neat, filed nails can make it more difficult to bite them. You might be less inclined to engage in the practice if there are fewer nails to bite. Several Oakland nail salons have invested in cutting-edge equipment to better trim their clients’ nails, reducing the prevalence of unsightly, inflamed habits like chiseling and biting.
Use gloves: Using gloves can prevent you from biting your nails, especially if you wear them when you’re more prone to do so, including when you’re reading or watching TV.
Replace the Behavior: Instead of biting your nails, consider replacing it with another behavior. Try chewing gum, utilizing a stress ball, or playing with a fidget toy, for instance.
Apply a Nail Paint with a Bitter Taste: There are nail polishes on the market with a bitter flavor to prevent nail biting. By causing an aversion to the action, using this nail paint can aid in breaking the habit.
Get Professional Assistance: It may be necessary to seek professional assistance if nail biting is a sign of a deeper psychiatric illness, such as anxiety or OCD. You can create a treatment plan and address the underlying causes of your nail biting with the aid of a mental health specialist.
Practice mindfulness: Deep breathing and meditation are two mindfulness techniques that can help lower stress and anxiety, which can help lower the temptation to bite your nails. Regular mindfulness practice can also assist you in becoming more conscious of and motivated to stop chewing your nails.
Last but not least, remember to reward yourself for your accomplishments. It might be difficult to break a habit, so it’s critical to celebrate your accomplishments as you go. You can establish modest objectives for yourself, such as completing a week without biting your nails, and treat yourself to a movie or your favorite sweet treat as a reward.
Conclusion
It’s a common practice that might be bad for your health and self-esteem to bite your nails. The numerous psychological factors that contribute to nail biting include stress, perfectionism, boredom, and genetics. There are a number of methods you can try if you want to stop biting your nails, including identifying triggers, keeping your nails short, substituting other behaviors, using bitter-tasting nail polish, getting help from a professional, engaging in mindfulness exercises, and rewarding yourself for your progress. You can break the habit and benefit from stronger, healthier nails with some time and effort just by visiting the closest nail salon on Maby.