Onychophagia Sufferers?

[bumblebee62331]

Are there any other people here who suffer from [SIZE=-1]onychophagia? Those of you who don't know what that is, it is the medical term for compulsive nail biting.

I have bitten my nails ever since I had teeth. I've tried everything - gloves, nasty nail polish, fake nails, chewing gum, distraction therapy, reward/punishment therapy - nothing works. It's so bad that I now have sores on some of my fingers from biting, which I am currently trying to get rid of. It's really depressing and I am always feeling so ugly and self-conscious because of my nails.

My boyfriend has said that he won't propose until I grow my nails. This is a good motivaion!

So I am really trying hard to stop biting my nails. Not just because of the proposal thing (and he wasn't being mean, he's trying to help give me motivation ), but because I am sick of being a 20 year old woman with disgusting, feral nails.

So that was pretty long-winded. I'm down to pure determination and self-control and I was wondering if anyone else here would like to make this a thread where we can try to quit together, and have support and encouragement, especially for when we slip up (because I know it will happen!)

Any takers?

ETA: I have also considered posting photographs of my nails as they improve. That would motivate me when I see the improvement because sometimes it's hard to see the difference. I already have some photos of when I tried to grow them last time (before I bit them all off again) and it seemed to work well for a bit. How do you all think about that? Too gross? A good idea?

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[bumblebee62331]

Also, if anyone knows of a good online nail biting support forum/group, could you PM me with the details? I've been trying to find one but haven't had much luck.

I'm going all out in stopping biting!!

 

[bumblebee62331]

Bump?

Am I alone in this?

 

[bumblebee62331]

Yup. Just me.

 

[momgreenlady]

Well I don't have a nail biting problem but I do struggle with ODSM, I chew on the inside of my mouth. It is really bad. I can chew for hours and just get nothing accomplished but bleeding. I have tried to stop before but no such luck. I am suprised to find myself a few days now without it!!! So I know it's not the same it is pretty similar. I will work on it with you if you'll have me!

 

[bumblebee62331]

Well I don't have a nail biting problem but I do struggle with ODSM, I chew on the inside of my mouth. It is really bad. I can chew for hours and just get nothing accomplished but bleeding. I have tried to stop before but no such luck. I am suprised to find myself a few days now without it!!! So I know it's not the same it is pretty similar. I will work on it with you if you'll have me!

Ouch, that sounds painful! Id' love to try to help with that.

 

[momgreenlady]

So how is the biting going? I have no idea why I have been several days now without chewing. I guess it is painful but only when it gets really bad. I also used to self-harm so I guess pain is not always a concern for me. I have tried so hard to quit before and nothing ever worked, why now is it going away? I don't know if it's because I have found a new obsession, these forums, or what! So, how are your nails???

 

[bumblebee62331]

Several days without chewing is great! I agree CF becomes a bit of an obsession - at least IMO it's a healthy obsession.

I didn't do too well, let's just say I have to start the days-without-biting count again.

 

[momgreenlady]

That's ok Start again! Hey have you even tried mixing your finger nail polish with ceyenne pepper? So how long have you been doing this? Is it part of OCD? Do you go to counseling at all? Well I even sat through a movie last night at the theater an didn't chew, that is amazing for me. I have no idea what is going on. I don't even remember trying to quit in the recent days. I'm going to take it as a blessing from God for whatever reason!

 

[seajoy]

Bump?

Am I alone in this?

Nope, not alone. My best friend's daughter does this (she's in her 20's). She has done it for years. She knows I have ocd, so she asks me questions on how to stop. I never thought of pepper in her nail polish! (good one, from greenlady!)

Hang in there...you can do this!

seajoy

 

[bumblebee62331]

That's ok Start again! Hey have you even tried mixing your finger nail polish with ceyenne pepper? So how long have you been doing this? Is it part of OCD? Do you go to counseling at all? Well I even sat through a movie last night at the theater an didn't chew, that is amazing for me. I have no idea what is going on. I don't even remember trying to quit in the recent days. I'm going to take it as a blessing from God for whatever reason!

Hmm I haven't tried ceyenne pepper but I am going shopping soon and I will see if I can get some, thankyou for the suggestion!

I've been doing it ever since I had teeth. When I first started, my parents didn't care, but after a bit they started slapping my hand away. A part of me wishes they had slapped it away straight away, so I couldn't have made it a habit. I know it's my fault, I'm not trying to blame my parents at all, but it's sort of .. nghghg.

I think it is part of OCD. I've never been diagnosed but I do many OCD-behaviours. I don't go to counselling. I have never been to counselling for any of my 'issues' (I have an ED). I'm not sure if I ever will.

That's great to hear about you not chewing for that movie. It must be a great feeling to get to the end of it and realise that you didn't chew!

Nope, not alone. My best friend's daughter does this (she's in her 20's). She has done it for years. She knows I have ocd, so she asks me questions on how to stop. I never thought of pepper in her nail polish! (good one, from greenlady!)

Hang in there...you can do this!

seajoy

seajoy, thankyou so much for your encouragement I hope your best friend's daughter finds the strength to give up. Does she do it really badly? My fingers are gross because of it, I get so embarrassed and ashamed.

 

[sreno7]

there is a name for this??? Wow I have had this for years. I did grow my nails once, for my high school graduation. My inspiration was Princess Diana, I read somewhere that she grew her nails for her wedding. I put pics of long lovely nails all over my room and signs that said "stop biting your nails, get your fingers out of your mouth, ect" I used the bad tasting nail polish but more often I used stuff that is supposed to be for thumb sucking. I also gave my family permission to tell me to get my fingers out of my mouth. It worked. I grew long lovely nails for my grad, the next morning I found myself biting my nails. I have even bit my nails in my sleep. It used to be so bad I chewed the corners of my fingers off. I have a teen son now who bites his nails, he tried to bite his girlfriend's nails the other night.

 

[momgreenlady]

So how are you doing in this battle? I was doing so well and now this week, my mouth is like chop liver!!! I don't know what the difference was between a few weeks ago and now. The past two days have been really bad though.

 

[bumblebee62331]

I've started again momgreenlady, and I guess I'm still down to determination and self-control.

I did go and buy some nail files and some other little nail beauty things. An old friend told me that, whenever I feel like picking my fingers or biting them, I should whip out a nail file and do some productive work on them instead of non-productive. It's worked so far - and my nails look a little better. I have some sores, as I mentioned I think, from biting them and I'm supposed to treat them and file them down and they have gone down. I guess as my nails look nicer, I don't want to bite them, so hopefully it will keep up.

Have you tried distraction? Or doing something instead of chewing your mouth? My mum used gum for a while - whenever she started chewing her mouth she'd pop a piece of gum in and chew that instead. Or she'd do mouth exercises that would distract her from chewing - I'm not sure how that one worked, but she'd just play around with stretching her mouth etc, just as distraction.

Don't give up! You're not allowed to give up until I give up - and that's not going to happen! We can get through this. Thankyou for bumping up this thread.

 

[momgreenlady]

I feel like I have tried everything! I have gum but I still will push the gum aside and chew. I really do think it's a matter of perfection for me. I'm at a loss for now. I'm not giving up I'm just not sure what to try.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Have you tried talking to a doctor? Do you think they could help you somehow? Or maybe even a psychiatrist (I think I spelt that wrong!). There might be a reason you chew, something you can work on stopping. That would be interesting to see...

 

[sreno7]

I was doing well for a while but as soon my nail gets a snag or is uneven I start biting it. I have also been chewing on the corners of my fingers but not so hard that it has broken the skin yet. I still have a couple of nails. My son starts on his girlfriend's nails when his are gone.

 

[bumblebee62331]

I was doing well for a while but as soon my nail gets a snag or is uneven I start biting it. I have also been chewing on the corners of my fingers but not so hard that it has broken the skin yet. I still have a couple of nails. My son starts on his girlfriend's nails when his are gone.

I know how you feel!

I can't help it if one of them is broken or uneven. I tell myself I'll just even it up and then i'll stop but it never works.

Here is a tip that is really helping me! Go and buy some nail files (just the little cheap ones) and carry them around in your purse/handbag etc. Also get some nice nail and cuticle cream. Whenever you see a chip, get out the file and file your nails. Also, whenever you feel like biting them or picking at them, get the file out and gently file them (a tiny bit - don't file them off! That's why I suggest getting cheap ones that aren't too "sharp") or get some of the cream and gently rub it into your cuticles and nails. Doing that will be productive and help your nails, instead of damaging them. Also, when I do that, I realise quickly that I don't want to damage them but rather I want to look after them and pretty soon the craving to nibble or pick goes away!

I hope this helps a little! We can do it!

 

[sreno7]

good plan, I was biting them today.

 

[bumblebee62331]

sreno7 and momgreenlady, I am leaving the site for a bit to try to sort myself out. I will be keeping a blog though so if you want to keep in contact (I will still be fighting to grow my nails and I can still lend support!!) please visit the homepage I have listed in my profile. I've made it so you don't have to have a blogger account to post comments. I would love to keep in touch.