Is it normal for people to eat their nails? And is it okay if you eat your nails? Or is nail biting a disorder?
Well, in most cases, people find themselves biting their nails if they are stressed, mostly emotional or mental stress.
Nail biting tends to show up in people who are nervous, anxious or feeling down, which they use as a way to cope with these feelings.
You may also find yourself doing it when you’re bored, hungry or feeling insecure.
Below are some of the ways that can help you stop nail biting:
- Cut them short: If there is enough nail to grab with your teeth, it won’t feel as satisfying when you give biting a try.
- Coat them with a bad taste: There are special nail polishes with a bitter flavor you can paint on your nails. The terrible taste will make you think twice before chewing.
- Splurge on manicures. Spending money and time at a nail salon will give you both good-looking nails and a reason to keep them that way.
- Wear gloves. It may sound silly, but if you can’t get to your nails, you can’t bite them. If gloves won’t work for your daily schedule, you can look for stickers made to cover nails — they can have the same effect.
- Find your triggers. Notice how you feel or what you’re doing when you bite your nails. Once you know what kicks you into nail-biting drive, you can try to find other ways to cope.
- Keep your hands or mouth busy. Find something to fiddle with — a stress ball, a worry stone, or even a pen to click. Chew gum so your mouth has a job. Give your nail-biting energy another place to go.