[JimWriter]

Many years ago, when I was a kid growing up in South Florida, I used to bite the skin off of the palms of my hands. Obviously, I was the subject of ridicule from kids in school.
My mom took me to a child psychiatrist, who asked me to draw pictures of my family members, friends, house, church and school, as well as other things.
It wasn't surprising at all, given that my dad was a serious alcoholic and that my parents fought (sometimes with knives and mayonnaise jars!) constantly. Home life was hell.
In third or fourth grade, i made the decision to quit biting the skin off my hands. I remember telling my mom, who seemed pleased with my resolution.
But....i started biting my finger nails. In 1991, a military psychiatrist put me on Anafranil, which turned my life around. No longer did i bite my fingernails and i found tremendous relief from my OCD.
Nowadays, I take another medicine, which works just as well as Anafranil, but doesn't have the side effects. But i bite my nails like never before--down to the cuticle.
My wife says I'm normal (I believe that), but i just can't seem to give up the habit. I see a psychiatrist every 3 to 4 months, when she checks my "psychological vital signs" and I see a T every month or so. Frankly, i feel fine, but this is one habit i struggle with.
Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks.

[Kiya]

Hey - i um actually still bite the skin off my palms when really stressed - and also my fingernails in between spurts. no advice really, just to say you're not alone out there.
Kiya

[Doh2007]

You must be getting something out of this behavior. With the right kind of help, you can learn how to get that feeling in other ways.

[BalishBun]

ive never experienced this, but i wish you all the luck of getting through it.

[Dawr]

I suffer from something very similar.

I both pick my nails and the skin around my nails.

As well as my feet, lips and sometimes face.

Though I've never been treated for it. My mother refuses to let me see a therapist.

[sparky0488]

i bite my nails, and also bite the knuckle of my left pointer finger (not to break the skin obviously, but to make me feel something other than the anxiety). I think i'm pretty normal and i have a decent life, but i deal with anxiety every day and would rather stop torturing my poor finger, haha. You're not alone, bro!

[crazydoglady]

I bite my nails too. I think in my family it might have a genetic factor. My grandfather bit his nails as did his daughter, my aunt. I started biting them at nursery school and have never been able to stop since. My Grandfather was also unable to stop, but my aunt did manage to stop her nail biting in her early twenties.

I'm sorry i can't help you with this.