Author Topic: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread) (Read 3298 times)

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 (

) 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!

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.

Fiery Winds · « **Reply #1 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?

black_biff_stadler · « **Reply #2 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.

Perpetual Change · « **Reply #3 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.

Nekov · « **Reply #4 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.

AndyDT · « **Reply #5 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.

glaurung · « **Reply #6 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.

Lynxo · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2011, 04:47:29 AM »

Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

jonny108 · « **Reply #8 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.

Zook · « **Reply #9 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.

jsem · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2011, 06:34:54 AM »

Quote from: Zook on October 13, 2011, 05:49:10 AM

My mom tried putting tabasco sauce on my nails once.

Why'd she give you a bigger incentive to bite your nails?

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...

VioletS16 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2011, 10:06:43 AM »

Quote from: 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.

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.

Aramatheis · « **Reply #12 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)

jasc15 · « **Reply #13 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.

Fuzzboy · « **Reply #14 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.

Edan the Man · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2011, 11:04:02 AM »

Quote from: 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.

This is how I feel.

eric42434224 · « **Reply #16 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!

slycordinator · « **Reply #17 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

wkiml · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:34:00 PM »

Quote from: 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!

I ashamed to say I had the same idea

MasterShakezula · « **Reply #19 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.

LieLowTheWantedMan · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2011, 02:37:49 PM »

I also have a nail-biting problem. I don't realize when I'm doing it.

bosk1 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:10:38 PM »

Quote from: Lynxo on October 13, 2011, 04:47:29 AM

Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

Chino · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:11:32 PM »

Every time you bite your nails, God kills a kitten.

lonestar · « **Reply #23 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:42:08 PM »

Quote from: bosk1 on October 13, 2011, 03:10:38 PM

Quote from: Lynxo on October 13, 2011, 04:47:29 AM
Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

Greatest movie line ever.

SystematicThought · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:43:41 PM »

Man, I have this habit too. The gum thing has never worked for me

jsem · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2011, 03:55:34 PM »

Quote from: 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.

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.

Ħ · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2011, 04:54:39 PM »

Quote from: 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!

Gorille85 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 13, 2011, 05:47:33 PM »

Quote from: Lynxo on October 13, 2011, 04:47:29 AM

Try to replace it with a better habit, like chewing gum (and kick ass).

Chewing gum is not healthy though.

Cecilia · « **Reply #28 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.

Sigz · « **Reply #29 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:10:28 PM »

Every time you want to bite your nails, just smoke a cigarette instead.

glaurung · « **Reply #30 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:14:01 PM »

Progmetty · « **Reply #31 on:** October 13, 2011, 07:14:50 PM »

Quote from: Sigz on October 13, 2011, 07:10:28 PM

Every time you want to bite your nails, just smoke a cigarette instead.

I came in to say that

Pirate · « **Reply #32 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?

lateralus88 · « **Reply #33 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!

jimbosile · « **Reply #34 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.

News: Fall Into the Light, official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFxH4kky6z4

Author Topic: help with stopping to bite fingernails? (bad habits thread) (Read 3298 times)