I've been picking and biting my nails and the skin around my fingers since I was about 5. I'm 22 now and want to actually get to the bottom of this instead of accepting it.There isn't one trigger. Sometimes it's stress, sometimes I do it without realizing, and sometimes I'll notice a tiny piece of rough skin or imperfection and get this almost irresistible "itch" where I have to pick or bite it until it feels right. That usually creates another rough edge, so the cycle continues.My parents took me to doctors and therapists when I was younger, but nothing came of it. They either didn't know what to recommend or suggested things like picking an eraser instead or putting lemon juice on my fingers. None of it addressed why I was doing it or worked long-term.Eventually I gave up and accepted it. But as an adult it's bothering me more. I put effort into my appearance. I work out, dress well, groom myself, etc. But my fingers are the one thing I can't hide. I've noticed people hesitate to shake my hand, and even women who are otherwise affectionate with me sometimes seem reluctant to touch my hands. It's embarrassing and has made me self-conscious about physical contact.I want to seriously deal with it now.Has anyone here dealt with this and actually stopped after years of doing it? Does this behavior have a name? What kind of professional should I see, and what treatments have genuinely worked?I'm not looking for another "put something bitter on your fingers" trick. I want to understand what's driving the behavior and address it properly.Where do I start?
>>34850028I did that for many years as well, though not as bad as in that image. The medical term for it is "Dermatophagia". I eventually managed to stop doing it, it only comes back now in times of high stress. The number one trick that helped me was to always have a nail clipper in reach. If I have a piece of skin on the fingertips that's begging to be bitten, I use the clip instead for a small, smooth cut. If you mess your fingers up too badly you can put a bandaid around it. That will protect the wound and stop you from eating on it further. It's very conspicuous of course to have your fingers bandaged in public like that, but you can do it at home no problem. I can't really tell you how to completely stop it. In my case I eventually had one finger that looked very badly (and it's still a bit mangled to this day). So I vowed to myself to stop biting at that one finger specifically, and only do it on the other 9. It was even just supposed to be temporary. But somehow during that period I lost the compulsion to eat on the other fingers too. Good luck fren, hope you'll get it under control too!
>>34850028usually impulses and feelings lose their power when you consciously acknowledge them. like if you feel scared and you acknowledge and analyze that feeling of being scared it goes away. maybe in your case you need to stop and observe that impulse. i used to always chew the inside of my cheeks when i was younger, the inside of my mouth is all scarred
Pick at your toes instead. Pluck out your beard, armpits, and pubes with a tweezer instead
You need more therapy guy, more modern approaches or a different therapist that specializes in compulsive behavior would do you wonders
>>34850028I used to chew my nails and hair. It took a while but now I only do it when a nail is really bothering me and is becoming a hazard and I know I won't have access to clippers soon. You notice yourself doing it and consciously stop. Every time you notice you tell yourself "no" like a dog. With enough repetition you get to "no" before your finger is even in your mouth.
>>34850028>But my fingers are the one thing I can't hide. I've noticed people hesitate to shake my hand, and even women who are otherwise affectionate with me sometimes seem reluctant to touch my hands. It's embarrassing and has made me self-conscious about physical contact. How so? I have the same thing but no one has ever mentioned or noticed it unless I specifically showed them my fingers for whatever reason.
>>34850028Just dig your nails into finger where skin is continuous rather than fragile disjointed skin around nails
