Nail-biting

[mayastar]

Why do I bite my nails and how can I stop it?

[sporty]

Nail-biting is a 'control pattern' - i.e. something you do to stop the effects of bad feelings. There are lots of control patterns: jiggling your leg, wringing your hands, sniffing, fiddling with something, smoking, talking too quickly or too slowly, eating and drinking when not hungry, being busy instead of relaxing, overworking and so on. The best way to overcome a control pattern is to find someone you can talk to about your worries and concerns, without being interrupted or ignored.

[HGray]

Have your nailes manicured regularly and you'll soon stop biting them - partly because you've invested time and money into them and partly because they look so much better.

[hannah]

I'd bitten my nails for years, so even when I had enough willpower to stop for a while, they were so weak that they would just snap and break. I've managed to stop this though by painting on some nail hardener. I don't want to bite my nails with it on, and my nails are now tough as, well, nails.