Bad Habits

Hello. I was casually researching bad habits like knuckle cracking, nail biting, hair twirling and pencil chewing and I realized how many people do these things.

I do knuckle cracking and foot shaking. So I thought I would open discussion about this. Does anybody know a research site that discusses these topics well?

What other types of bad nervous habits do people find challenging? I also tend to eat more when I am stressed.

What other options might people resort to when they find themselves doing these things? One website advised squeezing a soft ball if the person begins to crack/pop their knuckles.

I am curious. Anybody wish to contribute?

Lori

I twirl my hair and shake my foot but I never thought of them as "bad habits." People that crack their knuckles drive me to distraction, though. I was told that it gives you fat knuckles. LOL Does it? I don't know.

If I shake my foot while I'm laying in bed, and I sleep alone, would that be considered a bad habit? LOL That's sort of like the question "If a man speaks in the forest and no one hears him, is he still wrong?"

Giving someone a squeeze ball when they crack their knuckles sounds like a capital idea to me!

Hey there,

sometimes I shake my leg, especially if I'm at work and I can't get up at the moment.

Unfortunately, every bad habit I've had I had to give up: smoking (up to 2 packs a day and had pre-cancerous cells on my vocal chords - quite 7 years ago); over-eating (had gastric by-pass when I hit 400 pounds; drinking (recovering alcoholic 3 years). Shopping (went bankrupt 3 years ago)

Sense a pattern here - LOL?? I can never do anything in moderation. At least shaking my leg in my cube at work doesn't bother anyone.

Tranquility

Funny topic, lol. I crack my knuckles (sorry, SM) and always heard that it gives you fat knuckles and arthritis, too, but my daughter's chiropractor said that's not true. He said, if anything, it helps stave off arthritis. Don't know if he's right or not, as I'm a little suspicious of chiropractors as medical practitioners.

I know. I have heard the preaching all of my life. I stopped at one time and my fingers returned to normal but I doubled the same activity on my toes. Now I have osteoarthritis and bunions.

I have to control my overeating. I always go to the fridge and stare into it when I am not even hungry. I know something is causing this anxiety....I just wish I knew what lol.

I always crack my knuckles...All the time, It's not good.
When I'm stressed I move my legs and feet alot, I have to move alot, I also bite my lips and stuff.

Could some of these motor movements be part of Tourette's Syndrome? I know that one habit by itself does not indicate Tourette's but I have a son who was diagnosed with mild Tourtette's Syndrome and most of the tics are easy to identify as motor tics like his wrist rotation or his chin movements. I just wonder if some of these habits like foot shaking could be part of the Tourette's.

On a lighter note....my sister always twirled her hair around her fingers to settle into sleep at night in her childhood. That was teh only way she could relax at night.