How to Prevent Nail Biting

Overview

Nail biting is a common disorder that can affect people of all ages. Its technical name is chronic onychophagia. It is considered a stereotypic movement disorder. Nail biting can be prevented in many people with simple behavior modification. In severe cases, medication is required.

Step 1

Use Habit Reversal Training (HRT). HRT requires you to become aware of your nail biting habit then consciously altering that behavior. Every time you catch yourself biting your nails, stop and perform another action like rubbing your hands together. Over time this will teach you to replace nail biting with a harmless action.

Step 2

Add Stimulus Control (SC). In SC, you must figure out what triggers you to bite your nails. Many people do it when they are nervous or bored. Once these triggers are identified, change or avoid the factors that lead to them. Be prepared with an alternative action when you enter a high risk situation. For example, chew gum when you enter a boring and stressful class.

Step 3

Supplement your efforts with aversion therapy. Make the act of nail biting unpleasant. Drug stores sell special nail polish that is non-toxic but tastes terrible. You can also wear a rubber band around your wrist and instruct all your friends to snap it when they see you biting your nails.

Step 4

Try hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist can help you deal with stressful situations and other potential triggers to nail biting on an unconscious level. They can also encourage you to pursue constructive actions instead of biting your nails. Hypnotherapy can compliment conscious efforts to curb nail biting.

Step 5

See a doctor. Since nail biting is a psychological condition, many nail biters respond quite well to anti-depressants like clomipramine, fluoxetine and sertraline. Anti-psychotics medications like risperidone, olazapine and quetiapine are also quite effective for treating nail biting.