“How to stop biting my nails?” - It’s a common question on internet health and wellness forums. It’s no wonder, because nail biting is a common problem. It’s so common, in fact, that there is a medical term for it: onychophagia.

If hearing that nail biting is a psychological disorder with a Greek name make you automatically start chewing on your nails, there’s a reason for that. It is a habit that often has its roots in anxiety and then becomes compulsive.

Freudian psychologists consider nail biting to be an oral fixation. In the same way that infants suck their thumb or a dummy to help them sleep, some adults unconsciously are looking for security from having something in their mouths.

This theory is not universally accepted, but all psychologists agree that nail biting can be a real psychological problem. They’re not saying that you need to go into therapy or anything extreme like that, just that it is a problem that needs to be tackled. You can tackle it yourself, though.

Since nail biting is done unconsciously, anything that makes you conscious of what you’re doing will help you begin to deal with it. You can buy over the counter products that you paint on your nails, for one thing. These are harmless, but taste so bitter you will lurch back your finger as soon as you taste it. If you do this regularly, it may break the habitual cycle of nail biting.

Many people whose fingernail biting habit is not excessive have found that replacing nail biting with nail grooming has helped them. Getting a manicure and a nice nail job is an incentive to stop. Many report that getting their nails colored with a bright color reminds them not to bit their nails every time they lift them to their mouth. Men - You can try filing your nails neatly or going for a professional manicure.

Relaxation techniques can also help. Learn how to meditate. Many meditators have found their bad habits slip away when they have experienced the deep peace that regular meditation can deliver. Along with nail biting, even more intractible problems like smoking and even addictions have been overcome with regular meditation.

Whatever you do, don’t give up on yourself. You can and will stop biting your nails. Try the above techniques and others that appeal to you. If you’re still having problems, talk to someone. Ask them, “How to stop biting my nails?

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