Psychology of nail-biting
Many people bite their nails at some point, especially as children. It’s a type of body-focused repetitive behaviour that goes by the clinical name of onychophagia.
There’s a spectrum of nail-biting. It can range from an occasional benign behaviour to a deeply ingrained self-mutilate behaviour.
Many people who begin biting their nails as children eventually outgrow the habit. For others, it becomes a lifelong habit that can be extremely difficult to quit.
Why do we bite our nails?
Nail-biting typically begins in childhood and may accelerate during adolescence. It’s not always clear why someone develops this particular habit, but once it starts, it can be difficult to manage.
Impatience, frustration, boredom
Once nail biting becomes a habit, it can become your go-to behaviour when you’re waiting around, frustrated, or just plain bored. It’s something you do to keep yourself occupied.
Concentration
Sometimes, it’s just an absentminded tendency rather than a conscious choice during moments of intense concentration. You might not be aware that you’re biting your nails while trying to work out a problem.
Stress, anxiety
Biting your nails can be a nervous habit, possibly an effort to find temporary relief from stress and anxiety.
Emotional or psychological problems
Nail biting can be associated with mental health conditions, such as:
1)Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
2)Major depressive disorder (MDD)
3)Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
4)Separate anxiety disorder
5)Tourette syndrome
Not everyone with these disorders bites their nails. By the same token, biting your nails doesn’t mean you have a psychological disorder.
Side effects and risks of nail-biting
1)Nail-biting can include biting the nail, the cuticle, and tissue around the nail plate and surrounding skin.
2)Illness due to passing bacteria and viruses from your fingers to your face and mouth.
3)Harm to teeth such as chipping, misalignment, and dental resorption
4)Temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction.
Credits: Nivethitha
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