Finger biting! Options

[*Teenage Mutant Ninja Meg*]

I have a horrible habbit of biting the skin around my nails. I picked it up 3 years ago and I've been doing it on and off ever since. It's just a nervous habbit, but it's annoying and my fingers get sore but I can't seem to stop! What should I do?

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

Try chewing gum or candy instead of your fingers.

[*Teenage Mutant Ninja Meg*]

I'm not that much of a fan of gum... I do chew it once in a while. I don't exactly have an endless supply of either.

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

Try putting some really sour or bitter stuff on your fingers for a while. It might discourage you from biting your fingers.
It's what parakeet trainers do to stop their birds from plucking their feathers!

[Gigi]

Try and do something to busy yourself with, something that includes both your hands. Like knitting. When you're focused on something else, you're less likely to automatically turn to your fingers.

Tell your friends/family to point it out to you when you're biting. You're probably not aware of it. And if they think it's gross - even better. Maybe how other people think of you will make you stop.

[oXMuhNirvanaXo]

Another thing my boyfriend yells at me for..

" STOP IT! "
...

" Bite (one more time) "
Then I look over at hima smerk or a type grin that I do..

The he lets out a loud sigh..


Um.. Bite the inside of your lip.. NOT HARD!
That will stop you..

[Jeng]

paint your fingernails and skin.hehe.

[*Teenage Mutant Ninja Meg*]

Thanks for all your advice. I've heard they make this sour stuff that you can put on your fingers that also helps heal what's already gone. The only thing that makes me stop is thinking about how hard it is to get a nice manicure... and it's pretty gross when my fingers get pruny from swimming.

[Serendipity]

Dug up an old issue of Guideposts Sweet 16.
10 ways to nix nail-biting...here are a few ideas;
-coat 'em with something bitter > orly no bite?
-wear gloves/mittens
-think of all the dirt, bacteria, fungus, & parasites under your nails O.o
-cut your nails
-chew something else > gum/veggies
-stay busy with your hands
-reward yourself when you don't bite for __ days/weeks
Good luck.

[Smoogrish]

I used to bite my nails, but I started painting my nails with nail polish. Whenever I see the nail polish, I'm like "Oops, that's toxic. Can't chew that."

I just stopped. Once you stop, you don't really keep on chewing your nails.

[think!IMAGINARIL...]

^ I stopped because I got braces. Too painful to chew your nails when you have braces.

[*Infinite.*]

Eh I don't really do that, not chewing of the skin atleast. I clean my nails out and such and bite them accasionally, but thats it. I chew gum as well, so I suppose that helps.

[Trinie]

i have a finger biting problem tooooooo!! ahhhhh but nothing ever works for meee!

[*Teenage Mutant Ninja Meg*]

Well, I'm going to try the bitter stuff and see if that helps. Thanks!

[*suddenly she*]

get a manicure.
i never would because i play cello and a couple other instruments (and i dont' bite my nails anyway) but after spending $20 on your nails, you're probably less likely to ruin them.

[pandamonium]

i used to bite my nails when i was little around the time titanic came out but i bite the inside of my cheeks.... does anybody else do that?

[strawberry_sunda...]

i used to bite my nails when i was a kid... then i stoped for around a year.. then around 4th grade, i looked at my nails and said "hey, i havent bitten you guys in a while" then i started biting them again x.x;;

i stopped biting my nails around 3 weeks ago 'cause i got my braces o_o

try some random bitter stuff XD uhm grind some aspirin and shove a tiny bit of the powder under your nails :D bitter stuff, i tell you.. bitter stuff~!

[rochelley-o]

I had a big problem with biting the skin around my nails, also. I stopped a few weeks ago. Chewing gum works wonders.