[coko27]

Iam taking zoloft for anxiety and ocd and panic attacks and its not helping with the nail biteing and I wanna know is there help for it?

[imachikinlol]

I bit my nails all my life until my psychiatrist put me on Topamax. It's been five years now and I've still no desire to bite my nails. I don't know that Topamax would have the same effect for anyone else and it's certainly not the reason I'm prescribed it. I'm sure it's just a side-effect but a welcome one.

[polarsmom]

I have biten my nails most of my life. Over the last 5 years or so I've stopped biting them on and off a few times. I have to admit, it really came down to me wanting to kick the 'habit'. I paid attention to what I was doing and would force myself to keep my hands away from my mouth. I had to busy myself with other things. And I found that having nail files all over the house helped alot. I'd work on making my nails look nice. Pushing the cuticles back, smoothing the edges with a file instead of fixing them with my teeth. Putting clear polish on them. And after I actually had little nails I wanted to keep them. I would focus on keeping them looking nice. It took awhile but eventually I broke the 'habit'.

I have gone back to biting them a few different times. The last time it happened I ended up getting fake nails because I hated the way my hands looked after I bit all my nails down to nothing. I couldn't chew on the fake nails. That helped me to break the habit again. It's been well over a year since I've biten my nails down to nothing.

[Indie'sOK]

I've bitten my nails since I was 6 years old. Nothing so far has helped me quit - not fake nails, or getting bad tasting nail polish, or trying to focus on something else and keep my hands out of my mouth. I think I will quit when I am ready to

[coko27]

Originally Posted by imachikinlol

I bit my nails all my life until my psychiatrist put me on Topamax. It's been five years now and I've still no desire to bite my nails. I don't know that Topamax would have the same effect for anyone else and it's certainly not the reason I'm prescribed it. I'm sure it's just a side-effect but a welcome one.

Ok cause it make me sick my ocd is getting out of control.

[coko27]

Originally Posted by polarsmom

I have biten my nails most of my life. Over the last 5 years or so I've stopped biting them on and off a few times. I have to admit, it really came down to me wanting to kick the 'habit'. I paid attention to what I was doing and would force myself to keep my hands away from my mouth. I had to busy myself with other things. And I found that having nail files all over the house helped alot. I'd work on making my nails look nice. Pushing the cuticles back, smoothing the edges with a file instead of fixing them with my teeth. Putting clear polish on them. And after I actually had little nails I wanted to keep them. I would focus on keeping them looking nice. It took awhile but eventually I broke the 'habit'.

I have gone back to biting them a few different times. The last time it happened I ended up getting fake nails because I hated the way my hands looked after I bit all my nails down to nothing. I couldn't chew on the fake nails. That helped me to break the habit again. It's been well over a year since I've biten my nails down to nothing.

Thanks 4 replying Iam glad iam not alone

[Perna]

I bit my nails until I was around 55 years old. Lots of therapy and resolving the enormous anxiety I had stored for that many years was all that helped me.

[coko27]

Originally Posted by Perna

I bit my nails until I was around 55 years old. Lots of therapy and resolving the enormous anxiety I had stored for that many years was all that helped me.

thank you that really eases my mind that I can get help for it

[Moreta]

The key is distraction, which I have a problem with. Maybe try wearing gloves? I go through periods of biting my nails and not biting them. Mostly it depends on boredom and stress. What's really bad is when you're sitting there biting your nails and pulling out your hair at the same time.

[coko27]

Originally Posted by QueenAccountant

The key is distraction, which I have a problem with. Maybe try wearing gloves? I go through periods of biting my nails and not biting them. Mostly it depends on boredom and stress. What's really bad is when you're sitting there biting your nails and pulling out your hair at the same time.

Wow yeah that does sucks and it a bad habit