Nail biting is related to skin picking and hair pulling. Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders or OCD. People who bite their nails often keep their hands hidden behind their backs. People who bite their nails often feel social embarrassment and shame and experience out-of-control feelings at times. Sometimes they wonder why they are not able to stop biting and they often question whether or not they are sane.

Nail biting usually happens when nail biters are in one of two modes. Some do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of a trance and not thinking about what they are doing. It is often when they are immersed in some other activity at the same time such as reading or talking, etc. For others, the deliberate picking or biting is their main activity at the time, and they will frequently interrupt their other activities to engage in it.

There is also a strong commonality seen in the various purposes behind nail biting, skin picking and hair pulling. At a very basic level, these symptoms satisfy an urge. Many people report an almost uncontrollable urge to do them. Pulling, picking or biting also seems to deliver a pleasurable or relaxed sensation.

When sufferers feel stressed, doing these things has a kind of soothing effect on them and reduces levels of stimulation. On the other hand, when they are bored or inactive, they seem to provide a needed level of stimulation to the nervous system. This probably accounts for why so many people who have these habits find it so hard to give them up. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter what the consequences.

Even if you have more than one of these problems, don't give up on yourself. These compulsive behaviors can be overcome if you have a sufficient amount of motivation. More important is learning to "de-stigmatize" yourself. You are not crazy, helpless, morally weak or totally out of control, even though you may feel like it at times. Once you realize that you are just a person who simply happens to have a bad habit, you can make serious progress.

Skin picking and nail biting are chronic problems, so there is not currently a "cure" but you can find a recovery if you are willing to work at it. Hypnotherapy for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnotherapy For People Who Bite Their Nails

To start with, nail biting is a nervous habit. So the first part of the hypnotic therapy is to teach the sufferer how to be more relaxed at all times. To that end, I believe that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques are very often quite effective. That's because the very essence of hypnosis is relaxation. The person can learn to apply several different methods to increase both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of well-being.

The second part of the therapy teaches the individual awareness of this unconscious habit. Suggestions are generally given to the subconscious mind to make the consciousness aware that you are about to bite your nails. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

There are several other powerful methods. As an example, we can help the client to set up an "Anchor" or trigger so that he/she can momentarily disassociate. This is an effective method that will effectively relieve the compulsion.

The third part of the hypnotherapy is to eliminate the compulsion to bite the nails. There are Neuro-Linguistic Programming methods that actually program the client with a compulsion to reject biting his/her nails.

With the biting behavior, being realistic is very important. First off, you have probably practiced the unwanted habit hundreds or even thousands of times. You need to accept that the behavior of biting your nails will not simply be overcome in a few days or weeks.

Second, you are fighting the fact that biting your nails feels good, and it offers short term satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take a little time to overcome, but I believe it is worth it. My experience has shown a number of methods to be very effective!