Who has successfully stopped biting their nails?

cynthiaj777

Honestly, thinking about how absolutely disgusting your hands look to women might make you stop. I am SOOO turned off by any man whose hands are all mangled. And I can only imagine how gross it is for men if they see mangled women hands.

Maybe I just stopped because I'd prefer to have nice nails subconsciously....because now that I think of it, I do immediately notice chewed up fingers on men...and the disgust in my head is probably really noticeable on my face. haha

turbophoenix

I was a nail biter for 23 years and recently quit. I've actually quit once before but only for a few weeks - this go round, I'm doing really well and haven't bit my nails at all since Halloween.

All I did was start putting clear polish on my nails - somehow that did the trick.

GasMasterFlash

I stopped washing my hands after going to the bathroom. Might sound a bit extreme, but it helps stave off the craving to put my fingers in my mouth.

spynoodle

http://www.modernman.com/6-methods-you-can-use-to-stop-biting-your-nails/

Tashry

I kept a nail file with me 24/7 so if I got the slightest snag in a nail I could fix it nicely rather than start playing with it and biting it.

I also found keeping them pretty with polish helped because I didn't want to wreck them. But that won't work for everyone

as1789

I started working with **** water and other waste waters. That's the only thing that's ever worked for me.

katy84o

I use to bite my nails wicked badly as a kid. Once I became a vegetarian I stopped. I have no idea why it happened. Good luck!

exact same thing for me!

TanyaCurtis

Lol, I was horrible too, I still do from time to time, but not like I used to, and nothing helped, that gross tasting nail polish, getting yelled at LOL, I was in the same boat! I just had to make a conscience decision, and decided enough is enough! I tend to still if I'm bored or super hungry lol, but I'm obviously doing a better job at it because my nails actually grow out now! I kinda just nibble them more now, instead of eating them haha! Hope u can figure something out, cause yeah that sucks, and looks ugly lol

annameier8706

I have a bit of an oral fixation, so nail biting was pretty bad when I was younger. I got my lip pierced on each side (snake bite) when I was about 19 and the oral focus became messing wihpth my lip rings NOT biting my nials. I still do it on occasion, when I have a hang nail etc, but that's it.

penrbrown

I did stop two years ago... I'm not sure what set me off again but I'm trying to stop again now.

I look at is this way... if I can lose this weight I can sure as heck stop biting my nails!

The last time I quit I just made the decision not to do it, and whenever I wanted to do it I'd distract myself. But you have to make the conscious and continuing effort to stop.

KLo924

I stopped biting them when I started taking care of them. Manicures, painting them - making my cuticles look nice.

^This. Also, most of my compulsive-type behaviors calm down when I meditate for a while (several days/weeks in a row, not long individual meditation sessions ).

Dayna154

I bit my nails HORRIBLY bad most of my life, I tried fake nails for a long time then acrylic nails. As soon as they would come off I'd bite them. I would take care of them then get stressed and chew them to nothing.
The fake nails did eventually work for me for some reason but you being a man it would be harder. Can you put a sent on your hands that is unpleasant to you? Would that keep your hands out of your mouth?
I think nail biters are very oral fixated so you may need to find a substitute to be sticking in your mouth to replace your fingers until you can get past that habit.
It is possible tho, I have very nice nails now.. Don’t give up this too is possible

LilRedRooster

I did, FINALLY! I've bitten my nails since I could remember, and it was seriously a chronic addiction. I'd gnaw them down to absolutely nothing, and then keep going. Really, it still is an addiction, I'm just better at not giving in, haha.

My main thing was that I would bite them whenever I had any sort of snag, hangnail, or uneven nail surface. It was ridiculous, because if I just tried to let them grow, they were really brittle, would split, and I would bit them to even them out, and then I'd just keep going. So I bought one of those four-sided boards, that smooth, even out, and then buff the nails. When they were even, they didn't snag, or develop uneven surface, and just stayed REALLY religious with keeping them buffed. I also put on clear nail polish, because it didn't show up or bring attention to the nails (since I didn't want people noticing my gnawed hands), but usually kept me from biting them directly, because then I'd be spitting out polish. And it kept them less brittle, because the polish protected them.

Now that they're completely grown out, I always keep them polished, and always have nail clipper and a file with me to catch anything that breaks or splits, because I've found if I don't, they still split now and then, I don't want to relapse, haha. It's kinda nice having nails. Though I will say that ever since I stopped biting the nails themselves, I'll gnaw on the cuticles or skin around them, especially when I'm watching a tense movie or reading a book that I get really into, haha. Or I'll gnaw my lips, which is even worse.. Now I have to polish my nails, and keep Carmex with me all the time. Stupid habit addictions..

steph1neenee

i bought a lot of polish and stopped instantly...that was in middle school (12yrs ago)...i still bite the skin around them, the insides of my cheeks, and my lips...idk why though.

NoWeighJose74

This is the one habit I've yet to succeed at breaking.

Smoking? Quit after I left the Navy in 2000.
Bad eating? More or less under control these days, although we do treat ourselves now and again.
Nail biting? Ever since I was a kid and still can't stop. :ohwell:

momma3sweetgirls

I did about 12 years ago when I was studying massage therapy. The thought of other people's skin cells and body grime under my nails was what made me stop. I haven't given a massage in 11 years but I must have stopped biting long enough to make it a habit. Not sure how that can help you...sorry.

MeMountainMom

I did for over 20 years! Very sorry you are struggling with it. So hard to stop but you can.

Some ideas for you--

manicure - even guys can get one.
nail polish clear or colors
stop thumb sucking gel - for babies but hey if it works use it!
bandaids - cut them small if you need to
scotch tape it's clear and can go just on the nail
toothpicks!
sunflower seeds
in an emergency- paperclips cause you know they are germ filled
gloves! yep next to the remote! cause watching tv was nail time as though it was a standard appointment. Wherever you need them. even in car. Everywhere put gloves. Be sure to get large cotton ones so you don't have to take off bandaids.
brush your teeth cause sometimes it helps with the mouth wanting nails
gum...lots of gum!
hard candy
nuts cause they are crunchy and help a lot

put notes up about swine flu or other contagious diseases.
When they itch put noesporin or vaseline on them then a bandaid or soak in warm water
reward yourself with small items

you get the idea.....get creative.... whatever works.

remind yourself you can do it! It took me a year to stop and was really hard but worth it! just never give up!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!

Argharna15

I use to bite mine all the time to where they would bleed. I bought hoof hands kick the habit it worked wonders for me. I started using it last july and havent bit my nails since. It also made them a lot thicker they use to be paper thin. you can get it at walmart in with the nail polish.

GasMasterFlash

More nail polish could create a new problem. Be careful.

penrbrown

More nail polish could create a new problem. Be careful.

.... WHAT? WHAT? WHAT????? WHAT??? *cannot process*

madelonism

I bit my nails for so long then i got an acrylic nail job that i had for 5 months and when they were romoved i hadent bitten my nails for so long i stopped. i tap them on stuff though

anarose13

I stopped when one day i looked at my one year old and she was doing it too....that was a wake up call. its a battle every day but i usually come out on top. you gotta keep your hands busy and hold yourself accountable to your actions and you should be able to break the habit.

hello0okitty

yes. i have bitten my nails as long as i can remember. i tried stopping more times than i can remember. I stopped the day me and my bf of 2 1/2 years broke up. Not entirely sure why. it was just a low point and i was like eff this. stopped chewing my nails, dropped 20 pounds, got my hair did, and got a facial piercing. yep.

that was like 6 months ago. now people ask if my nails are real or fake.

Eryndil

Honestly, it took me about ten years to quit. Every January I'd make the resolution that I'd stop biting, and by about Jan 5th I'd be nibbling again. I just quit this year by putting the nasty tasting gunk on my hands, then any time I had the urge I would sit on my hands or hold my boyfriend's hand instead.

In my experience, it is very hard to quit. I stopped this year without too much hassle (I think) because my body was sick of it. Just do your best!

TheLaser

I bit them for pretty much my whole but managed to stop... I don't even remember when. Sometimes I have relapses, like an alcoholic... one bite and I know that could start it up again. But it's been under control for several years. I did it in a multi-step process:

-fake nails -they worked really well when ALL of the nails were bit down, but were kind of a problem because they would fall off and I'd always have to have the glue and replacements around. That method was awesome to just STOP the practice. it's like nail biting boot camp. If you're a guy maybe you could buy a set and trim them to look more like guys' nails.

-band aids for individual problem nails -totally worked, except they'd get wet and feel gross whenever I washed my hands. So again I had a huge stash that I carried with me wherever I went. And I was very religious about replacing the wet band aid. These worked really well to get some nail growing again.

-water and herbal tea drinking! I think MFP really helped because now I always have something to drink if I feel antsy and I never take out the fidgetiness on my nails anymore.

-carrying around file to sand down any hangnails literally the second they happen

-just having to take the subway to work kind of put a definitive end to it; I see people biting their nails and it seems like such a disgusting thing to be doing in public transportation. No one around me used to bite nails before, so getting the observer's perspective really made me see the light.

That said, I do think it would be easy to revert to old habits if the setting were right.

Good luck!

halobender

I stopped biting my nails for about five years. I started again when I quit smoking.

So yay for that. Happy to not be smoking anymore, and I don't bite my nails down to the quick, just a trim, essentially. I would rather not bite them at all. I should pick up fingernail trimmers and an emery board.

leynak

I used to be a really bad nail biter when I was younger up to high school. I had braces on for 2 years & I couldn't reach my nails when I tried to bite them. I eventually just quit, although it did take a while to get used to. And I'm pretty sure I looked kind of funny struggling to reach my nail.:laugh:

SexyCook

This may sound weird but now that it is summer again...I have stopped which tends to happen because I get my nails officially done during this time....Winter time I may get a manicure maybe like every other month...and therefore my nails are open for chewing...lol....BUT in the summer time....I get the Shellac Nails and never think about it and they grow quite nicely......So right now I am free of nail biting....:laugh: :laugh:

rblauvelt7

Started working with kids! I'm still a work in progress, but I find myself keeping my fingers out of my mouth and most of my nails are now to the tip of my fingers. Apparently, I wasn't perfect though, because I picked up strep throat last week!

TheLongRunner

Me! Me! Stopped suddenly at the age of 30 after 25+ years of biting. Honestly I have no tips as it just kind of happened....i think I had reduced my anxiety level at that time though...and that may have helped!