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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ħ on October 13, 2011, 02:07:44 AM

Title: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Ħ on October 13, 2011, 02:07:44 AM
It's a terrible habit, I know.  I never really noticed I did it that much until a girl ( :sadpanda: :sadpanda: :sadpanda: ) pointed it out.  So I'm determined to quit. 


Any tips?  Any statistics or anything that can motivate me? (It takes "X" days to break a habit, it takes "Y" days for fingernails to fully grow out, etc.)


Really don't want to do it anymore.  It would also help with guitar!  :biggrin:


And if anyone else has bad habits they want to share or whatever, I guess it's a good idea to have a thread for that too.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Fiery Winds on October 13, 2011, 02:10:11 AM
Every time you bite your nails I'll punch you in the face.  How's that for motivation?   :police:
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: black_biff_stadler on October 13, 2011, 02:26:04 AM
My biggest vice is eating. I've done it virtually every day of my life and I'm not proud to say it.

As for the nail biting: start small. Set an alarm for one hour from now. See if you can make that hour. If so, then tomorrow try two hours and three hours the next day and so on. If you fail on a try, make the next try 30 minutes shorter than the failed attempt so you'll have a middle ground between a realistic goal and backtracking to the point of counterproductivity.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Perpetual Change on October 13, 2011, 03:15:05 AM
Probably wasting time online. It's not as bad as some people I know, but it's still pretty bad. Worse since I've started grad-school. When I was in undergrad, I was so involved that I'd only really surf the web at night. Now I feel like I'm always on. Part of it's also because I'm abroad so I'm looking to talk to people from home and stuff, though.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Nekov on October 13, 2011, 03:34:46 AM
I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. What you could do to avoid it would be buying a special nail polish that's designed for that which basically tastes like crap. Other than that sorry, no recommendation I can give.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: AndyDT on October 13, 2011, 03:47:12 AM
I made a list of things which were me externalising internal strife or seeking distraction. They included porn, fidgeting and nailbiting. If you can recognise this fact then turn into what is uncomfortable at the time maybe you can start to kill the habit. I say 'don't externalise' and observe what's making me uncomfortable.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: glaurung on October 13, 2011, 04:28:15 AM
I've been trying to kick the fingernail chewing habit too. I've been doing it pretty much my whole life, to the point I've worn down a notch into one of my teeth from all of the grinding. My strategy so far is to use nail clippers to keep my nails as short as possible. If there isn't anything to chew on I can't keep doing it and hopefully the urge to do it will go away.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Lynxo on October 13, 2011, 04:47:29 AM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: jonny108 on October 13, 2011, 04:55:51 AM
My fingernails are completely fucked from biting them, don't think there is any chance that they could grow back now.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Zook on October 13, 2011, 05:49:10 AM
I kinda just grew out of nail biting. Looking back, I can't believe I ever did such a thing. My mom tried putting tabasco sauce on my nails once. Didn't work. Good luck with breaking that shit.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: jsem on October 13, 2011, 06:34:54 AM
My mom tried putting tabasco sauce on my nails once.
Why'd she give you a bigger incentive to bite your nails? :P

I have a serious problem with this too, but I only bite them OFF on one finger, I can't bite my nails off on my right hand because I need them to play guitar... So I only slightly chew on them without breaking them off...

Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: VioletS16 on October 13, 2011, 10:06:43 AM
I kinda just grew out of nail biting. Looking back, I can't believe I ever did such a thing. My mom tried putting tabasco sauce on my nails once. Didn't work. Good luck with breaking that shit.
Ouch!

I just told myself I wouldn't anymore and I don't, except when I break  one. It's not that enjoyable sounding anymore once you quit.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Aramatheis on October 13, 2011, 10:08:27 AM
holy shit

I was just thinking like an hour ago about making this exact thread
weird

edit: I still bite my nails, although to a much lesser degree than I did when I was a child.
now I only really bite them during stressful situations (mostly writing exams in university) or when my (usually left) hand is free while playing League of Legends.

another bad habit would be picking/aggravating acne on my face/neck/shoulders with a free hand (like when I'm play LoL)
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: jasc15 on October 13, 2011, 10:31:33 AM
I bite my nails, and maybe I'm in denial, but I don't see a problem with it other than the occasional times when I bite them too short and it hurts for a day or so.  There are worse habits to have.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Fuzzboy on October 13, 2011, 10:54:00 AM
I just stopped gradually. Took maybe 4 days I think. Anyways, I still bite them on occasion but not to the point where they bleed like I used to.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Edan the Man on October 13, 2011, 11:04:02 AM
I bite my nails, and maybe I'm in denial, but I don't see a problem with it other than the occasional times when I bite them too short and it hurts for a day or so.  There are worse habits to have.
This is how I feel.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: eric42434224 on October 13, 2011, 11:53:39 AM
Pick your butt.  I mean really get in there and scratch that anus.
I guarantee you wont bite your nails.
I also wouldnt recommend shaking anyones hands, picking your nose, or eating finger food though.
Enjoy!
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: slycordinator on October 13, 2011, 12:00:29 PM
We got a dog a long time ago to stop biting holes in the walls by putting hot chili on the spots was chewing at. So just cover your finger tips and you'll make yourself hate doing it. lol
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: wkiml on October 13, 2011, 02:34:00 PM
Pick your butt.  I mean really get in there and scratch that anus.
I guarantee you wont bite your nails.
I also wouldnt recommend shaking anyones hands, picking your nose, or eating finger food though.
Enjoy!

I ashamed to say I had the same idea
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: MasterShakezula on October 13, 2011, 02:36:37 PM
I have a problem with not biting my nails enough.

As a result, they're a bit sharp, and since I scratch my scalp a lot sometimes (when it's obscenely dry), it end up really messing it up. 
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on October 13, 2011, 02:37:49 PM
I also have a nail-biting problem. I don't realize when I'm doing it.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: bosk1 on October 13, 2011, 03:10:38 PM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

(https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/bosk1/demotivator/bubblegum.jpg)
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Chino on October 13, 2011, 03:11:32 PM
Every time you bite your nails, God kills a kitten.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: lonestar on October 13, 2011, 03:42:08 PM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

(https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/bosk1/demotivator/bubblegum.jpg)

Greatest movie line ever.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: SystematicThought on October 13, 2011, 03:43:41 PM
Man, I have this habit too. The gum thing has never worked for me
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: jsem on October 13, 2011, 03:55:34 PM
I have a problem with not biting my nails enough.

As a result, they're a bit sharp, and since I scratch my scalp a lot sometimes (when it's obscenely dry), it end up really messing it up. 
I don't really know if it works, since I just bite off my nails anyway, but try using a nail file - see how it works out.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Ħ on October 13, 2011, 04:54:39 PM
Pick your butt.  I mean really get in there and scratch that anus.
I guarantee you wont bite your nails.
I also wouldnt recommend shaking anyones hands, picking your nose, or eating finger food though.
Enjoy!
:rollin
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Gorille85 on October 13, 2011, 05:47:33 PM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

Chewing gum is not healthy though.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Cecilia on October 13, 2011, 06:53:28 PM
Speaking of picking your butt... for a while I stopped biting my nails because I worked as a CNA. Even though I'd double glove, wash my hands many times throughout the day, and shower as soon as I got home from work, I always felt dirty. Then I got fired, felt a lot cleaner, and the nail biting habit returned.

I can go a few weeks without biting, but my nail beds are all kinds of fucked up.  :-[
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Sigz on October 13, 2011, 07:10:28 PM
Every time you want to bite your nails, just smoke a cigarette instead.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: glaurung on October 13, 2011, 07:14:01 PM
:lol
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Progmetty on October 13, 2011, 07:14:50 PM
Every time you want to bite your nails, just smoke a cigarette instead.

I came in to say that  :lol
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Pirate on October 13, 2011, 07:16:26 PM
Other than putting all that dirt and germy stuff in your mouth what's wrong with biting your nails?
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: lateralus88 on October 13, 2011, 07:18:45 PM
I compulsively spit on the ground when outside. No real reason (I mean unless I coughed something up), I just like to spit. Only a few people have called me out on it for it being a bad/rude habit, but it's hard for me to NOT do it.


Also this isn't so much a BAD habit, but I want to share the fact that if you ever watch me walking up stairs, I will always make sure my right foot is the foot to hit the final step. OCD YEAH!
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: jimbosile on October 13, 2011, 08:09:57 PM
I've never seen anyone with shorter nails than mine. I even tried the polish that tastes like shit and after a while, I got used to the taste so it didn't stop me.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: LieLowTheWantedMan on October 13, 2011, 09:07:19 PM
I've never seen shorter nails than mine either. Never tried that polish though.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: rogerdil on October 13, 2011, 09:35:04 PM
I don't think biting one's fingernails is a big deal at all.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on October 13, 2011, 09:37:46 PM
I used to bite my fingernails. Now, I have no fingers. I type with my toes.
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: carl320 on October 13, 2011, 11:15:48 PM
I chewed on my fingernails until I got braces.  Now I pick the skin off of my fingers.  I've tried stopping but it comes and goes with anxiety.  Lately I've been pretty nervous  :|
Title: Re: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread)
Post by: Lynxo on October 14, 2011, 05:11:10 AM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

(https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/bosk1/demotivator/bubblegum.jpg)
FINALLY someone got it. :tup