Ever since I was little, I have had the very bad habit of biting my nails. I’m not sure exactly when it started, but I think it was when we lived in Wisconsin and I was in early grade school. Nail biting is called onychophagia and is a common habit that affects around 30% of the population. The obvious and default cause relates to psychological factors like anxiety and stress relief (many people bite their nails as a way to cope with tension), boredom or restlessness (it provides a physical activity when idle) and perhaps even perfectionism (sometimes people bite uneven nail edges trying to “fix” them). I tend to think my affliction is the middle one since I do not take boredom all that well. I am also a leg giggler, which tends to make me think that restlessness is something that afflicts me. They say that fingernail biting can also be a biological issue that has some genetic components and therefore becomes an automatic behavior that’s difficult to control.
It can be related to other body-focused repetitive behaviors like hair pulling or skin picking, but I suffer from neither of those. The environmental triggers are generally stressful situations and its noteworthy that seeing others bite their nails can normalize the habit and make us feel it is OK and not so very weird.
For many people, nail biting becomes a deeply ingrained habit that provides temporary relief or satisfaction, even though they may not consciously decide to do it. Once starting a nail biting session, I think the perfectionism issue kicks in and the bitten nails and cuticles never seem just right. They say that breaking the habit typically involves addressing underlying stress, finding alternative coping mechanisms, and sometimes using deterrents like bitter-tasting nail polishes. Whenever I have tried any solutions, they have only worked for a while and I have always reverted to form unfortunately. It is said that if your nail biting is chronic, you could be damaging your nails and the surrounding skin. Duh! And then there’s the issue of regularly putting your fingers in your mouth, which, especially when traveling, is very unwise. It’s not hard to imagine that you might potentially infect your body with bacteria.
No matter when or why I started nail biting, the habit is very difficult to break. I’m not even sure that at age 71 it can be done or why it should be done for that matter. It can cause dental problems such as misalignment and chipped teeth, and in fact I have one small chip in a front tooth which I suspect I owe to my nail biting. They say you can get a fungal infections in the nail bed from doing it, but the only nail fungus I have ever seen relates to occasional toenail issues and try as I might, I cannot seem to bite my toenails. I’m pretty sure I’ve picked up a cold or two over the years from the hand-to-mouth activity, but I’ve never really had serious mouth issues, including jaw pain and soft tissue injuries. Other than an occasional hang nail, I doubt I have ever given myself any skin infections, so I guess my mouth is relatively free of bacteria. Nevertheless, my nails are usually a mess. When I’ve gone into remission for short periods of time I’ve even had manicures with the thought that I could get myself to permanently kick the habit. No such luck. Every once in a while as we are watching TV, Kim will ask me to stop my nail biting since it bothers her with its clicking noises. I’m not fond of that scolding, but I try to comply. It’s like any other compulsive behavior, stopping seems possible and then before you know it and often without consciously realizing it, you are starting up again.
Apparently, if you swallow the bitten nails they can make you sick. The compulsive nail bitter may not swallow them, but I bet there are very few who don’t chew them up into little pieces. There is literally no reason in the world for someone to do that, but it falls into the category of life’s stupid little mysteries because it’s happening all around you every day. Excessive nail biting may require a more serious treatment regimen that addresses the physical and psychological factors involved. But knowing whether your nail biting is normal or pathological isn’t always easy. Your behavior may be pathological if not biting your nails triggers severe distress, such as shame, anxiety or guilt or if nail biting limits your ability to function. I’m happy to report that my nails biting seems to fall into the category of normal and not pathological by that definition at least.
They say that squeezing a stress ball, playing with a fidget toy or chewing gum can be a good alternative activity for nail biters, but I tend to prefer a more deterrent-based approach like painting my nails with either clear nail polish or even liquid bandaid. People who use gloves or retainer-style devices must be on the pathological scale because that seems pretty far out there to me. Then, once the nails start to grow out, try keeping your nails trimmed to reduce the hangnails and ragged edges that temp you to bite. If that works, I recommend starting a regimen of going for a manicure (if you can stand it….I know that’s a tough process for me since I find a mani/pedi to be somewhere up there with lying on a bed of nails (pun intended).
I worked for a very high-powered guy at Bear Stearns (he was the co-President) and he was not only a brilliant guy, but one of the most fastidious guys I’ve ever encountered. His office was a showcase that was stylish in every detail. He also dressed impeccably and was a very attractive and well turned out guy…all except for one thing. He was clearly an incessant and severe nail biter. He made me look like an amateur. In fact, it was long after I went to work for him that I finally noticed his nails, since he tended to very subtly keep his hands out of view without being obvious about it. His fingers and nails were an absolute mess, to the point where I wondered whether he had some genetic deformity with his nails. While I never really delved into the topic with him for obvious reasons, I suspect he was just a pathological nail biter who bit his nails so badly that his fingertips were somewhat mutilated and atypical looking. He was a guy I would have pegged as someone who got weekly manicures, but with those hands, there was no way that was happening.
It’s hard not to notice that nail characteristics vary between individuals. This is due to a combination of genetics (basic size, shape, and thickness of nails is largely inherited) and the fact that some people naturally produce more keratin (the protein that forms nails). Nails, like any other body part are affected by circulation (better blood flow to nail beds promotes stronger growth), hormone levels, nutritional status (deficiencies in biotin, zinc, iron, or protein can lead to thinner nails) and environmental influence like frequent water exposure, manual labor, frequent typing and even climate conditions (dry environments can make nails more brittle). Aging also slows nail growth and nails become thinner and more brittle as you get older.
As I wait not-so-patiently for this next trip, my nails are down to the nub. I am thinking its time to paint them to get me headed in a better direction while I preoccupy myself with my travel. I want this trip to be very chilled out and relaxing and I know biting my nails will not advance that narrative, so let’s see if I can reverse course here this week by nailing it.