Oral fixation

I swear I'm orally fixated. I've been biting my nails since I was 6, and even now I'm chewing on a pen. Anyone know what causes this?

From what I know about this Indie it's a nervous habit. I could be wrong and they could have a newer better explanation now,

Rhiannon

I have always bitten my nails. Not usually to the point of bleeding, but my nails just never reach a reasonable length.

When i get aggitated or stressed, I find something to chew on - at the moment it's an old medical aid card (like a credit card) or a cable tie - as I feel they will last longer than anything softer

http://health-psychology.suite101.co...nd-how-to-stop

Thanks everyone I'm trying to grow my nails out so I just keep reapplying polish to them. I usually bite it off within a couple days, so I'm not sure how well this is going to work.

I too have bitten my nails since a very early age. This is nervous tension trying to be released.

My lifelong nail biting finally went away after successful therapy for my anxiety.

The link Byz gave is good. Both my girls went through a stage but they stopped. Chewing gum or shell sunflower seeds will keep your mouth busy. Once when I was a kid, I was fidgeting with a pen and it slipped and chipped the bottom corner of my front tooth.

Under the nails is dirty and truthfully it can make you sick - knowing this yucky fact was motivation for my girls to stop. Once they saw them grow, they felt proud of themselves. If helps to be mindful - the moment you bring your hand up, catch yourself and stop. Good luck Indie.

Then there's my stepmother who would offer me her toenails to bite

Ewwww that's dreadful and mean - sorry this happened Perna. I hope Karma caught up with that woman!

On a lighter note my brother used to bite his toenails right in front us, while watching TV. The strange thing is, I never thought anything was odd but now I thinks its gross lol. Pretty flexible guy.

She was just trying to get me to stop the habit, not so easy though. She tried spraying my hands black with spray paint one day too (I'm playing out front, about 13 when she comes out with her hand behind her back and tells me to put mine out; uh, NO! I'm not stupid :-) and in the tussle she got black spray paint on one of my favorite blouses and I don't think I ever forgave her for that. About that time she also tried having me wear white gloves out to play in; I was popular with the neighborhood kids, not.

My girlfriend from when we were 5, 6, and 7, when I was in my 20's I heard her mother had quit biting her finger nails and that stuck with me; there was an adult quitting as an adult, I figured maybe one day I could/would too. It was weird to me that it turned out to be an effect of therapy and I just went longer and longer between biting my nails such that I usually have most of them now for awhile before one snags or gets weak or whatever and "comes off" and then the others start going a bit faster

Perna - sorry if my mentioning about dirty fingernails triggered this memory.

You know what's strange - just as I'm typing this my 8 yr walks up to me and says "look mommy how I let all my nails grow" lol. She's doing so well in stopping. When I told them about how nails can be germy, I didn't say it meanly, just casual facts and sharing. Then I taught her how to be mindful of when she brings her hand up...like when she's watching a suspenseful TV show etc.

No, no triggering; I'm fine!

Yes, I use to bite mine most often when I was reading. You might want to suggest to your daughter that she might want to consider wearing gloves or twiddling with something in her hands while watching TV to give her other suggestions how to keep her hands away when she's concentrating elsewhere. Don't forget the pens/pencils aren't particularly great for chewing on either when doing homework.

Thanks ladies! Interesting - I used to bite my toenails too! I stopped a couple years ago, I know it's nasty Now mine are long(er) and I paint them all the time. It's fun. Byz did give a great link - it mentioned how there are two kinds of nail biters; those who need oral stimulation and those who need something in their hands constantly. I am of the former category. Even now I'm chewing on a toothpick Keeping polish on my nails works great, and I'm sure my anxiety being significantly reduced will help too, though I haven't noticed any difference yet. Thanks again!

You're brave for admitting the toenail biting Indie -hey at least you're flexible lol.

Haha, thank you! I can still put my leg up over my head too

Kind of OT but my cat chews his back claws then spits the hulls onto my bedspread. Sorry, that's gross.

On a serious note, I think the pencil biting and nail chewing is anxiety based too.

Oh my gosh, I've never heard of a cat doing that before

Thanks all for sharing. Some great ideas posted