Nail biting is a common problem that many struggle to battle with. This may just seem like a quirky little habit, but it could be rooted in psychological and environmental issues. The best way you can gain back control over this habit is to understand the underlying reason behind it.
Nail biting causes
This quirky habit is very common nowadays. Whether you are a child or an adult, this habit of biting nails can take a toll on your day-to-day activities. Here are some of the reasons behind your pesky habit of nail biting:
- Stress and Anxiety: If you are someone who has high stress or suffers from anxiety, nail biting might be your best way to get a temporary but instant release. Repeated nail biting can also help you get distracted from your thoughts, causing stress or anxiety.
- Boredom: For many people, biting nails can act as a filler activity, which they turn to every time they are sitting idle, bored. When this action is repeated, it turns into a habit you start doing mindlessly, without any conscious awareness.
- Perfectionism: Individuals who have perfectionist tendencies can get irritated or triggered by their uneven/jagged nails. The most immediate action they can take to fix the nails or “perfect them” is by nail biting.
- Physical factors: Many times, physical irritants like rough, uneven nails can trigger the urge to bite your nails. Your attempt at smoothing out your nail can lead to a recurring habit of nail biting.
- Underlying mental health conditions: Several times, the cause behind your habit of biting nails can be a symptom of underlying mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, OCD, or ADHD. Your habit of biting nails acts as a coping mechanism for these mental health conditions.
The reason behind you biting your nails can be any one or multiple of these issues. Take control of your habit of biting nails today!