First, let's turn to scientific theories, and then you will choose an easy way to stop nibbling your nails: despite great achievements in various fields of research concerning the health and beauty of modern man, there is still no exact information about why women bite their nails (note: men also gnaw nails). The most common theory of nail-biting is that people gnaw nails to relieve stress, relax, because it helps to distract from the state of nervous excitement.
Now several theories based on human psychology:
- There is an opinion that the suppression of any desire, which for some reason can not be realized, causes stress, and as a consequence this harmful habit.
- The theory that parents nibbling their nails will necessarily pass this habit to their children by inheritance, is true, but only in part. Children can nibble their nails after their parents, because in their youth they repeat many of the behavioral gestures behind them. Someone will leave this habit in the distant childhood, and someone can not get rid of it and in adult life.
- The state of heightened anxiety, excessive suspicion causes people different desires to act in any way to calm themselves. This includes: nibbling, twisting hair on a finger or a pen, twitching your clothes, twisting or winding a chain or belt on your finger.
- Sometimes it happens that nibbling nails is not fraught with psychological causes. It's all about the fragility of nails, the lack of vitamins: when the nails break, they begin to interfere and cling to their clothes - this starts to irritate their owner, which leads to their biting off. But it's much better to have a nail file and nippers to protect yourself and your health, and not to hurt even more.
In accordance with the above, mostly psychological theories, there are some ways to combat this habit, divided by the nature of people:
- Tips for hypochondriacs, that is, for those who are constantly concerned about the possibility of getting one or more diseases and even die, for example, from the most simple scratch. First of all, bitten cuticles serve as fertile ground for the introduction of infections that can get not only into the blood, but also through saliva into your intestines. If this does not frighten you, then think about how many bacteria, microorganisms accumulate directly under the fingernail. In general, the conclusions are self-explanatory.
- A good tip for weak-willed people, who can not find the strength to give up this bad habit. You just need to build up your nails - to gnaw the acrylic or gel plate is very tasteless, in addition, you can even poison yourself, this is not your nail polish. In addition, the nails with one cut off will look worse than all the bitten ones, and you will have to go for correction because of every nail eaten, and that, you agree, is a costly exercise.
- Advice for people with increased anxiety: first of all, you need to find the source of anxiety and reduce it to "no." Also, doctors advise artificially to create anxious situations, they can even be called frightening, which help to reduce anxiety; in addition, it is recommended to drink soothing pills, herbs or drops, but only after consulting a doctor with a neuropathologist.
And now let's look at various ways to combat this bad habit.
- The next time you start biting your nails, think about how many bacteria and microorganisms are there accumulating, because we can not wash our hands every minute, and we also can not sit without doing anything with our hands, therefore, the probability of catching any infection is very high . Inspect yourself that with every nail bite, hundreds of different bacteria, microbes that harm your health come into your body (note: it would be nice if someone from your relatives helped you instill such terrible but effective thoughts).
- A good way to fight nail gnawing can be a manicure, not an ordinary one (note: many women bite their nails with varnish and are not at all embarrassed), and the build-up, nails covered with acrylic and gel, will surely repel you of the desire to gnaw them. Agree, this is a fairly easy way.
- If you do not have enough will power to quit this habit, ask for help from your relatives (these tips will help those who have friends and relatives gnawing their nails), for example: let your friends beat you in the hands when they see you, gnawing at the nail; you can come up with a bet that you will not chew your nails for 2 weeks, if you win, you will be waiting for a prize; or you need to set a goal - to grow beautiful and healthy nails, for example, to the wedding of your best friend; you can come up with a punishment in the form of garbage disposal for a month, washing dishes or something else that you do not like to do. Here the main thing is the fantasy and frequency of repetitions of these methods, which in time will lead to the rejection of a bad habit.
- If you are nervous, try to understand for what reason and eliminate it. If it is not in your power, you can engage in auto-training, meditation, drink various herbs, sedatives (if you consult a doctor), which will help calm down.
- There are times when people chew their nails to concentrate. For these purposes, you can use crackers, some edible straw, toothpicks, anything, but not your poor fingers.
- If you feel like chewing on your nails, buy a chewing ring for children. After a while you will understand that you look stupid, and if you chew on your nails instead of a ring, then this, moreover, is very ridiculous, you can compare yourself to a baby who only knows the world, but it is extremely harmful to your health, and just plain ugly.
We gave examples of various ways to combat bad habit - to quit gnawing their nails. These methods are quite effective and common in modern society.