Susun Weed's Wise Woman Forum

by **Lannie** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:23 pm

Darbycrash, how are you doing with your nailbiting?

I used to bite mine, too (I think because my dad did, and I wanted to be like him...). I finally stopped when I was 16 and have had nice, long, strong nails ever since. I think all that biting must have forced them to become stronger! LOL!

I had to phase out of biting them, too. I told myself I could only bite the little fingernails, but none of the rest. So they all started growing except my pinkies, which were horrible. I finally managed to stop biting them, too, but it was really hard. Now I still pick at my cuticles, even to this day. There's just some kind of nervous tension that will ONLY be released by mangling my fingers in some way. Some people twitch their foot, some bite their fingers! I'm working on that, though, and it really isn't as bad as the whole nail-biting thing was.

So let us know how you're doing. [:)]

~Lannie

Website · by **Roseb44170** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:17 pm

[:0]I don't think I can be of much help either. I have bitten my nails for as long as I can remember. I even posted a line on my webpage about how I bite my nails and I got emails from others that do the same. We're all pretty much in the same boat. Personally I think my nailbiting is just due to nerves, stress and just something to do with my hands.

by **wildflower** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 3:28 am

I used to bite my nails and chew my hair as a child. I stopped because I didn't think it was a good thing, but I started biting my pens instead (Had a few explode in my mouth). Now, I chew sugarless gum. Turns out, I just need to be in a constant state of chewing on things. Maybe chewing gum will help you guys?

by **Patchouli** » Sun Nov 23, 2003 1:18 pm

Well in spite of the warning from my periodontist about the nail biting causing my teeth to wear down, I cannot seem to stop. I grow them and then they start to drive me crazy until I have to bite them[:I]If I could keep them filed down it would help and I am trying to do that but yesterday when I was out shopping and couldn't decide on something I had to have a little nailbite, was sooo good [:p]I thought of putting some of the Sally Hanson on my nails, certainly do not want to be ingesting that, has formyldahyde in it [xx(]every time I go to drug store to buy it I walk away but maybe it would help.
patchouli

by **Anonymous** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 3:57 pm

Well, I'll raise my short-nailed hand to join the club here.

I have been chewing my nails voraciously since I was young. I vaguely think I started in my teen years, but it's been so long I forget. I do know that as an infant I never sucked my thumb, but rather chewed a blanket, toys, and anything else that fit in this greab gob of mine.

I have noticed lately that it may be stress related, since when I am on vacation or otherwise engaged in other activities like gardening I "forget" to chew my nails. Of course after a week's abstinence they are just long enough to really give me a good surface to work with again, so I start to Gnaw-Gnaw-Gnaw again, and if I get them so close to my finger that it hurts a bit, I know it was a good chew.

I'm sure it is something bothering me, because if I make a conscience effort to stop (or even wrap my fingertips in bandaids) I start some new nervous habit like pinging off hair (great if I get the root!) from the back of my hand or arm.
I've been following this thread with interest, but must admit I'm an addict as well.

I've tried those bitter "paints" but I develop a taste for them and just bite away. I've even tried to paint my nails with a clear polish hoping the mental aspect of all that toxic stuff on the nails would dissuade me, but then I simply pick at them until there is a good surface. Usually I don't even notice I'm doing it until it's done, then of course I need to "even things out" if I've already started to chew one.

(aside: Wonder why in my case there is almsot a pain-threshhold thing going on. I don't stop chewing until there is physically no more nail left extending from beyond the finger. same with other nervous habits I create for when the nails are too short to chomp)

Perhaps we should start an NBA team. Nail Biters Anonymous.

Hi, My name is Nate, and I bite my nails to the quick every day.[8D]

by **Lannie** » Mon Nov 24, 2003 4:39 pm

Hey, Nate, I was just like you! Chewed them till they bled before I stopped. I couldn't pick things up sometimes, because my fingers hurt too bad. But I couldn't stop either, and didn't realize I was doing it until it hurt (OW!) and started bleeding.

Even since I stopped biting the NAILS, I sometimes still chew on a cuticle, or at least pick at them. I don't realize I'm doing that, either, till someone says something. ("Will you please STOP that! It's driving me CRAZY!") LOL!

I've let my nails grow out now until they're long enough to be hard and they're not so easy to bite. But just watch if I get a split or tear in one! ARGH! I have to trim it down immediately or stick one of those plastic nail-tip thingies on it to stop the urge. I guess being a recovered nailbiter is a LOT like being a recovered alcoholic - way too easy to fall off the wagon! LOL! [;)]

Anyway, I sympathize with you, but I'm afraid I can't offer any suggestions. I, too, started enjoying that bitter crap that you put on that's supposed to stop you biting them. The urge to bite was much stronger than the aversion to the bad taste. I was finally able to stop when a guy I had a huge crush on made a face one day while I was madly chewing away and said "WHY do you do that?". I wanted to please him so badly that I was able to stop almost immediately. Whew! It was hard, but I did it. We broke up shortly after that, but hey, at least he got me to stop biting my nails. [:D]

~Lannie

Website · by **Roseb44170** » Sun Dec 21, 2003 6:59 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by darbycrash
 I tried fake nails but.... I bit them off! I'm so bad! I can't help it, the one just kind of popped off and then I had to pry them all off with my teeth. I've tried to keep them filed and cut and stuff but I always forget about it after a while. I'll have to try putting some of that cream on at night. I have a feeling it runs in the female side of my family because my mother used to do it too. Maybe I'm just not ment to have long nails! Thank you both for the great suggestions.[:)]
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I also have tried the fake nails thing too. Unfortunately mine didn't last 2 days! I bit those off too!

by **Anonymous** » Sat Dec 27, 2003 9:04 pm

I was a horrible nail biter too for almost 30 years. It took me several tries but I finally defeated it.

The key is the mental approach. You must sit back and think, "when do I start to bite my nails without even thinking about it" For most people, it is stress, thinking, panic or suspense. You need to be conscious of the scenarios that make you feel this way and when they occur, stop yourself. Go talk to someone, go get a drink, call you mother, squeeze a ball, put gloves on, file/flick your nails.

This habit can be defeated!! For more info, go to http://www.stopbitingyournails.ca

thanks

Kevin

Website · by **Roseb44170** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:49 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Maebius
 Well, I'll raise my short-nailed hand to join the club here.

I have been chewing my nails voraciously since I was young. I vaguely think I started in my teen years, but it's been so long I forget. I do know that as an infant I never sucked my thumb, but rather chewed a blanket, toys, and anything else that fit in this greab gob of mine.

I have noticed lately that it may be stress related, since when I am on vacation or otherwise engaged in other activities like gardening I "forget" to chew my nails. Of course after a week's abstinence they are just long enough to really give me a good surface to work with again, so I start to Gnaw-Gnaw-Gnaw again, and if I get them so close to my finger that it hurts a bit, I know it was a good chew.

I'm sure it is something bothering me, because if I make a conscience effort to stop (or even wrap my fingertips in bandaids) I start some new nervous habit like pinging off hair (great if I get the root!) from the back of my hand or arm.
I've been following this thread with interest, but must admit I'm an addict as well.

I've tried those bitter "paints" but I develop a taste for them and just bite away. I've even tried to paint my nails with a clear polish hoping the mental aspect of all that toxic stuff on the nails would dissuade me, but then I simply pick at them until there is a good surface. Usually I don't even notice I'm doing it until it's done, then of course I need to "even things out" if I've already started to chew one.

(aside: Wonder why in my case there is almsot a pain-threshhold thing going on. I don't stop chewing until there is physically no more nail left extending from beyond the finger. same with other nervous habits I create for when the nails are too short to chomp)

Perhaps we should start an NBA team. Nail Biters Anonymous.

Hi, My name is Nate, and I bite my nails to the quick every day.[8D]
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Hey that is a cute idea - Nail Biters Anonymous-NBA for short. I'm going to have to remember that.

by **Anonymous** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:06 pm

I am a nail PEELER, not biter. Results are the same, which are terrible, especially for someone in her 50's. All kinds of remedies for biters, but not peelers. I do not want to spend the rest of my days being so embarrassed about my nails, or lack thereof. I told my husband if something happens to me, to make sure I have fake nails on in the casket[:D] Any suggestions? There have been times when I did let them grow out--the longest time being for a whole year. Usually it's only a matter of weeks and they're GONE. After all these years, they are in deplorable condition. Are there any nail PEELERS out there? Only thing I haven't tried is hypnosis.

by **Guest** » Fri May 14, 2004 7:18 pm

Hi there Everyone! What a quirky topic! I notice that women particularly that work with their hands alot- tend to abuse them when under stress, super busy, in uncomfortable social situations etc..etc.. Isnt that curious? I bet everyone here spend buku hours tending to others- learning- growing- cooking - doing.,... and yet we beat on ourselves in a way - I am ALWAYS embarrassed at how my hands look!

One thing I found out- is when I was calm and felt secure with myself- I NEVER bit my nails or peeled them- but when I wasnt in such friendly surroundings- hands went right into the mouth - I didnt even realize it.

Maybe it just comes down to getting aware of how we are feeling when we start doing that. I know if I am trying to talk to someone- particularly at my job especially- and I feel like I cant explain something right- or feel uncomfortable- I start chewing my nails! Since this thread has brought it up- I think I will start taking note of how I feel and what spurs the unconscious response of nail biting... How curious!

Thanks! Aimee

by **jiva** » Sat May 15, 2004 10:08 am

I bit my nails as a kid and managed to stop in 7th grade math class. I was terrible at math and was sooo terribly bored (I would bite my nails till my teeth hurt in there) that one day I decided to not bite my nails in math anymore. A few months later and I had successfully quit. My nails are pretty strong and it always made my teeth hurt to bite them...not to mention my fingers when I peeled off the nail too far. ouch! But even all these years later, when I'm nervous I find myself faux biting my nails. [:I] I'm not in it to actually bite them off anymore...it's just soothing to my obsessive compulsiveness to do this I guess. It's strange, even "cured", it's still a part of me. [:)]
Oh, but I still can't resist peeling the top layer when I see it's separated a little. Luckily, it doesn't happen so much anymore.
[:D]
jiva

by **Anonymous** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:59 am

Hello fellow nail biters,

At first when I read the postings I was laughing, because this is MY experience too! [:)] I totally relate to all of you struggling with this insane problem. Its so bad at times, that I put neosporin on my fingers before I go to bed, so my fingers won't ache in the morning.

I used to give myself timeframes of when I would stop, first it was at 18 y.o., then when I graduated from college..then after writing my graduate thesis (because I needed the comfort of biting to get me through that hellacious experience)..then it was once I got that first job..suffice it to say..the search for the right time is still out on the horizon.

My father was a serious nail biter, but quit at age 25..I've surpassed this age. One of my sisters is in the same boat..however does not mangle her fingers as seriously as myself..
I need some type of hypnosis and a substitute for this out of control oral fixation.

Its nice to chat to, as my husband put it, "my peeps".

Greisy

by **Anonymous** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:50 pm

My son will be 10 this Sunday and is a terriable nail bitter. He is a wonderful son, student and athlete that has a lot going for him. He pretty much chews on his nails all the time. It gets really bad because he plays a lot of baseball and chews them so short that the first time he catches the ball they start bleeding. I've really been getting on him lately to stop biting and thought about the stuff you can paint on the nails. I'm not sure where you can get it, so if someone can give me some names and where you can purchase it, that would be great.

Thanks

by **Anonymous** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 5:41 pm

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sapphire kate
 I can't help with the nailbiting, but nourishing infusions (oatstraw, nettle for me) made a huge difference to the health of my nails. I used to have nails that got raggedy and damaged easily, now they're as hard as ... nails [:D]. I think adequate protein is important too.

http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

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