{"id":112,"date":"2023-12-29T21:51:40","date_gmt":"2023-12-29T21:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/?p=112"},"modified":"2023-12-29T21:53:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T21:53:59","slug":"how-to-stop-anxiety-nail-picking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/how-to-stop-anxiety-nail-picking\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stop Anxiety Nail Picking For Good"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nail biting and skin picking are common nervous habits that many people find difficult to break. If you have dermatillomania or are looking for ways to stop anxiety nail picking, this comprehensive guide will provide proven techniques to help you quit for good.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re short on time, here&#8217;s a quick answer to your question: <b>Set up reminders and rewards, try bitter polish, keep your nails short, identify triggers, distract yourself, practice coping techniques like deep breathing, and seek therapy if needed<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h2>Understand Why You Pick<\/h2>\n<p>Nail picking, also known as excoriation disorder, is a common body-focused repetitive behavior. It involves unconsciously using your fingers to pull, peel, or pick at the skin around your nails. This habit often gets worse when you feel anxious.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding the triggers, emotions, and potential underlying causes behind your nail picking can help you get better control.<\/p>\n<h3>Identify Your Triggers<\/h3>\n<p>Certain triggers seem to set off nail biting or picking episodes. Common triggers include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Feeling bored &#8211; Mindlessly picking at your nails gives you something to do.<\/li>\n<li>Feeling anxious\/stressed &#8211; The repetitive motion can be calming.<\/li>\n<li>Having hangnails or dry\/damaged nails &#8211; You try removing imperfections.<\/li>\n<li>Being in high pressure situations &#8211; You channel nervous energy into nail picking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep a diary noting when you pick your nails. Look for patterns around potential triggers. Knowing what sets you off makes it easier to find alternatives like squeezing a stress ball when you feel the urge to pick.<\/p>\n<h3>Note Your Emotional State<\/h3>\n<p>Nail picking often relates to your emotions. It can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Provide distraction from unpleasant emotions<\/li>\n<li>Release tension or nervous energy<\/li>\n<li>Give a sense of satisfaction\/pleasure when removing rough skin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Carefully observe your emotional state leading up to and during any nail picking episodes. Are you feeling sad, angry, stressed? Does picking seem to calm you or offer fulfillment? Understanding the emotional component helps you address root causes of this habit.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-table su-table-responsive su-table-alternate\">\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Emotion Before<\/th>\n<th>During Nail Picking<\/th>\n<th>After<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Stressed about exams<\/td>\n<td>Feel calmer<\/td>\n<td>Temporary relief then stress returns<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Noting details in this way also makes you more self-aware, helping you catch the behavior sooner. Apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bfrb.org\/component\/content\/article\/9-treatment\/206-finding-supportive-treatment-providers-for-trichotillomania-and-skin-picking\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nailbiter&#8217;s App<\/a> can help you track emotional triggers.<\/p>\n<h3>Consider Underlying Causes Like Anxiety<\/h3>\n<p>Research suggests around <b>30-45% of people<\/b> with nail picking disorders also live with anxiety. Anxiety leads to tension and unease. Pickers channel that energy into repetitively targeting cuticles and nails. Understanding and managing anxiety may help reduce nail picking urges.<\/p>\n<p>Consider if any of these common types of anxiety feed into your nail picking:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><i>Generalized anxiety<\/i> &#8211; Chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday things.<\/li>\n<li><i>Social anxiety<\/i> &#8211; Extreme fear of social situations and judgment.<\/li>\n<li><i>Symptoms<\/i> &#8211; Fast heartbeat, nausea, dizziness feed picking urges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Speaking to a therapist can uncover whether anxiety contributes to your nail picking. They can also teach coping strategies to make anxiety more manageable day-to-day. This may reduce the urge to nervously pick at your nails.<\/p>\n<p>Getting to the root of what triggers your nail picking is key to gaining control. Pay attention to your environment, emotions, and inner state leading up to picking episodes. This self-awareness puts you in a better position to catch the habit sooner and find healthier alternatives to anxious nail destruction!<\/p>\n<h2>Set Yourself Up for Success<\/h2>\n<h3>Keep your nails short<\/h3>\n<p>Keeping your nails trimmed short is one of the most effective ways to curb nail biting. Long nails provide more surface area to chew on, while short nails limit access.Aim to keep your nails trimmed to just beyond the tip of your finger. You can trim them with nail clippers or an emery board.<\/p>\n<p>File the edges smooth so there are no snags. Short nails also minimize damage if you do slip up and start nibbling again. Consider getting a manicure to keep nails shapely and at the right length.<\/p>\n<h3>Use bitter nail polish<\/h3>\n<p>Bitter-tasting polishes act as a deterrent and reminder to stop biting. They contain harmless, but foul-tasting ingredients that make your nails unappetizing. Apply the polish liberally over clean, dry nails. Let it fully dry.<\/p>\n<p>The awful taste helps curb the urge to bite and pulls your mind back to the present if you absentmindedly start to chew. Using the polish consistently trains your brain to associate biting with something unpleasant. You may need to reapply it often at first.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, the need to use it should decline as the habit diminishes.<\/p>\n<h3>Wear gloves or bandages<\/h3>\n<p>Covering your fingertips with gloves or bandages serves as a physical barrier to nail biting. It prevents your teeth from reaching the nails. Cotton gloves are ideal for wearing at home while watching TV or doing chores. Bandages wrapped around the tips of your fingers work for on-the-go protection.<\/p>\n<p>The less you bite your nails, the more time they have to grow and break the habit cycle. Keep gloves and bandages handy anywhere you tend to bite like at your work desk or in the car.<\/p>\n<h3>Set phone reminders and rewards<\/h3>\n<p>Using cues can boost your motivation and willpower. Set reminders on your phone to go off when you typically bite your nails. Customize the alerts to say something like &#8220;Stop biting!&#8221; or &#8220;Hands down!&#8221; Seeing the messages interrupting your habit helps you consciously stop.<\/p>\n<p>Also give yourself small rewards like a chocolate square or 10 minutes of leisure time when you make it through a trigger situation without nibbling. Over time, you can increase the nail-free stretches to earn bigger rewards. The positive reinforcement boosts your resolve to kick the habit for good.<\/p>\n<h2>Find Healthy Alternatives<\/h2>\n<h3>Keep your hands busy<\/h3>\n<p>One of the best ways to stop anxiety nail picking is to keep your hands occupied with other activities. This distracts you from biting or picking at your nails and allows the nails to grow out naturally. Some ideas to keep hands busy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fidget toys like stress balls, silly putty, or fidget spinners<\/li>\n<li>Hold a pen or pencil if on the phone or in meetings<\/li>\n<li>Doodle or color in an adult coloring book<\/li>\n<li>Start a new hobby like knitting, crocheting, or cross-stitch<\/li>\n<li>Play an instrument like guitar or piano<\/li>\n<li>Knead a stress relief dough or clay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It may take some trial and error to find the right fidget item that works for you. Look for textures and activities you find soothing and satisfying. Consider keeping objects within reach to occupy your hands when you feel like picking.<\/p>\n<h3>Distract yourself<\/h3>\n<p>Distraction techniques help shift your focus when you feel tempted to bite or pick at your nails. This breaks the habit loop and buys you time for the urge to pass. Useful ways to distract yourself include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Go for a walk or exercise<\/li>\n<li>Call a friend or family member<\/li>\n<li>Listen to music, podcasts or audiobooks<\/li>\n<li>Watch a funny video clip or movie<\/li>\n<li>Do a puzzle like Sudoku or crossword<\/li>\n<li>Play a game on your phone or computer<\/li>\n<li>Draw, paint, or work on another creative hobby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Come up with a list of 5-10 distraction options you can use when a nail biting urge strikes. Keeping your mind occupied with another activity will take the focus off your nails.<\/p>\n<h3>Try fidget toys<\/h3>\n<p>Fidget toys provide a healthy way to keep your hands busy and relieve anxiety. They give you an alternate object to manipulate instead of your nails. Popular options include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Stress balls<\/b> &#8211; Squeeze these soft balls to release tension<\/li>\n<li><b>Fidget spinners<\/b> &#8211; Flick or spin to occupy restless hands<\/li>\n<li>Silly putty or modeling clay &#8211; Stretch and mold to calm the fidgeting instinct<\/li>\n<li>Rubik&#8217;s cubes &#8211; Twisting and turning the sections is a brain teaser<\/li>\n<li>Tangle therapy &#8211; Manipulate bendable tubes for mindful focus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Look for fidgets with interesting textures, buttons, switches or clickers to satisfy the urge to pick. Having a fidget within reach means you can redirect your fingers when the urge strikes. It trains your brain to seek out a healthy alternative instead of fixating on your nails.<\/p>\n<p>According to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4558502\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2015 study<\/a>, fidget items helped reduce nail biting and hair pulling urges in adults with body-focused repetitive behaviors. With regular use, fidget toys can help break the anxiety nail picking habit for good.<\/p>\n<h2>Practice Coping Techniques<\/h2>\n<h3>Deep breathing<\/h3>\n<p>Taking slow, deep breaths is an excellent way to relieve anxiety and calm the mind (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/how-do-i-practice-deep-breathing-3024400\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">source<\/a>). Try to inhale deeply through the nose, allowing the breath to come all the way down into the belly. Hold it there for 3-5 seconds if comfortable. Then slowly exhale through the mouth.<\/p>\n<p>Repeat for several minutes. This triggers the relaxation response, resulting in lower heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mind-and-mood\/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">source<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3>Guided imagery<\/h3>\n<p>Visualizing peaceful images can shift focus away from anxiety. Close your eyes, take calming breaths and picture yourself somewhere beautiful, like a beach or forest. Engage all the senses &#8211; smell the fresh air, hear the gentle waves or birds chirping, and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.<\/p>\n<p>Even 5-10 minutes can lift mood. One <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/18816345\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> found over 80% of guided imagery participants had anxiety relief.<\/p>\n<h3>Progressive muscle relaxation<\/h3>\n<p>This technique involves systematically tensing and relaxing muscle groups. Sit or lie down comfortably. Starting at the feet, squeeze muscles tightly for 5 seconds, then release for 30 seconds. Work upwards through calves, thighs, hands, arms, back, shoulders, neck and face.<\/p>\n<p>Deep relaxation follows as muscle tension is relieved. Research shows <b>significant stress reduction<\/b> from this easy, quick method (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/how-do-i-practice-progressive-muscle-relaxation-3024400\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">source<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h2>Get Professional Help<\/h2>\n<h3>See a therapist<\/h3>\n<p>Seeing a mental health professional like a therapist or counselor can be hugely beneficial for those struggling with anxiety-related nail biting. Therapists are trained to help identify the root causes of anxiety and equip patients with healthy coping strategies.<\/p>\n<p>Through talk therapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), therapists work to reshape unhelpful thought patterns that fuel anxiety. They also teach calming techniques to employ when feeling anxious.<\/p>\n<p>Considering anxiety is a leading cause of nail biting, professional therapy stands to make a big impact.<\/p>\n<h3>Try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)<\/h3>\n<p>Cognitive behavioral therapy is a highly effective form of talk therapy that focuses directly on identifying and adapting negative thought patterns. For nail biters, CBT can uncover anxiety-provoking thoughts that trigger the urge to bite, such as &#8220;My nails don&#8217;t look perfect&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>The therapist then works to reframe these thoughts into more positive, realistic ones, like &#8220;My nails look fine and no one pays much attention anyway&#8221;. Over time, changing one&#8217;s mindsets and reactions to stress makes a tangible difference.<\/p>\n<p>Studies show CBT meaningfully reduces anxiety levels and related compulsions like nail biting.<\/p>\n<h3>Consider medications for anxiety<\/h3>\n<p>In tandem with therapy, doctors may prescribe anti-anxiety medications as an additional tool to manage feelings of worry. Medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines work by enhancing natural brain chemicals that regulate mood and relaxation.<\/p>\n<p>While not a cure-all solution, these drugs can provide critical short-term relief by dulling intense anxiety and related compulsions. Of course medications come with side effects and risks to weigh carefully.<\/p>\n<p>But for severe nail biters where anxiety is a major driver, the right medication can make the path to recovery smoother.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Nail picking habits can be extremely difficult to break, but it is possible with patience and persistence. By identifying your triggers, setting up reminders, keeping busy, practicing coping skills, and seeking therapy, you can stop anxiety nail picking for good.<\/p>\n<p>With time, the urge to pick will fade. Your fingers will thank you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nail biting and skin picking are common nervous habits that many people find difficult to break. If you have dermatillomania or are looking for ways to stop anxiety nail picking, this comprehensive guide will provide proven techniques to help you quit for good. If you&#8217;re short on time, here&#8217;s a quick answer to your question:&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"Nail Guide"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-to-stop-anxiety-nail-picking-1024x614.webp",1024,614,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Amanda Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/author\/chris\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Nail Guide","slug":"nail-guide","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1279,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":1279,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nail Guide","category_nicename":"nail-guide","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-to-stop-anxiety-nail-picking.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}