Learning to Stop Nail Biting Is a Process
I don’t know anyone who was able to stop nail biting the first time they tried. It just doesn’t happen that way. You know what I’m talking about. In a moment of unguarded weakness, you chew off all or some of your nails in a few minutes. This can be devastating as you realize you just wrecked weeks or months of hard work to get your nails growing out.
The main thing is to not give up on yourself.
You are not a bad person, or a weak person. You have a bad disorder that causes you to fidget and release nervousness or boredom by biting your nails and pulling on your cuticles. You did not wish this situation on yourself. By reading this, you know you have the desire to stop nailbiting.
The thing you need to realize is that you can relapse and have a biting fit. It doesn’t mean you have to give up. You can start again and have success. I know, for me, it’s been tough sometimes to even care enough to get going again. But, I have found some ways to help get me going in the right direction again. The first thing is to take a few deep breaths, maybe do some meditating to release the anxiety over feeling like you failed yourself again.
Failure is only for quitters.
You just had a setback. You can get back on track to stop nailbitng right now. Once you have calmed yourself from the realization you have had a setback, do these things:
- Get a good set of Cuticle and Hangnail Snippers
and carefully trim away any hangnails or ragged cuticles.
- Use a quality Ceramic Pocket File
to smooth out your nails – all of them – even the ones you might not have bitten or chewed.
- Use the file to smooth the cuticles that were damaged in the process.
- Put some polysprorin on any open sores on your cuticles – this cuts down on potential staph infections.
- Use a bandage for a couple of days if you need. It’s better to be embarrassed by bandage than having others looking at your unsightly nails.
- Get some polish or nail hardener or ridge filler, or all three on your nails. The hardener will help keep the chewed softened tips from becoming targets for new biting episodes.
- Start moisturizing your cuticles twice a day. I heartily recommend Nailtiques Nail Moisturizer
. It’s the best I’ve found.
- Forgive yourself for your relapse and move on with resolve to do better next time.
- Vow to take better care of yourself, including your fingernails.
These things work for me. If you want more ideas and help like this, read my book, How to Stop Nail Biting
Buy it on Amazon.com today
