Nail-Biting Treatment Online

Onychophagia (i.e., Nail-Biting)

Nail-biting, also known as onychophagia, is a common body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that involves biting or chewing on one's nails. This habit typically starts in childhood or adolescence and can persist into adulthood, affecting around 15-30% of the general population (Baghchechi et al., 2017). However, nail-biting is not always harmless habit. For example, the damage caused by biting the nails and surrounding skin can lead to dental problems (e.g., chipped teeth or misalignment) and an increased risk of infection. Nail-biting can become chronic and interfere with daily functioning. Furthermore, nail-biting can be a sign of underlying anxiety or stress, and addressing these issues may be necessary to break the habit.

Nail-Biting Treatment

Habit reversal training (HRT) is a commonly used cognitive-behavioral therapy technique to treat BFRBs, including nail-biting. HRT involves identifying triggers that lead to the behavior and implementing competing responses that are incompatible with the behavior. For nail-biting, HRT may involve substituting nail-biting with activities that require the use of the hands, such as playing with a stress ball or holding a pen. 

Here is a sample treatment plan outline for nail-biting:

1. Self-awareness and motivation: The first step towards treating nail-biting is to become aware of the habit and to develop the motivation to stop. This can be achieved by keeping a log of when and where bite your nails and the consequences it has on your life.

2. Replace the habit: Find alternative ways to cope with stress or boredom that do not involve nail-biting. This could include activities such as playing with a stress ball, chewing gum, or fidget toys.

3. Positive reinforcement: Reward yourself for progress made in stopping the habit. This could include treating yourself to a favorite meal or buying a small gift for yourself.

4. Identify triggers: Identify the situations or emotions that trigger the urge to bite nails and plan strategies to avoid or cope with them.

5. Physical barriers: Apply bitter-tasting nail polish or wear gloves to make it difficult to bite nails.

6. Relaxation techniques: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation to reduce stress and anxiety.

7. Seek professional help: If the habit persists or is causing significant distress or damage to the nails or skin around them, consider seeking professional help from a therapist provider.

Stopping nail-biting can take time and effort, but it is achievable with commitment and perseverance.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know is struggling with excessive nail-biting, finding a therapist who specializes in BFRBs can be a great first step toward improvement. I serve Las Vegas, NV, and Nevada statewide as well as Portland, OR, and all of Oregon statewide (in addition to 33+ PsyPACT states).

You may call me at (702) 530-6134, schedule an initial consultation, or use the contact form to take the first step toward recovery and develop a personalized treatment plan.

Nail-Biting Resources

It is important to develop awareness and monitor your nail-biting behavior. Here are some tools to help toward that end:

• SkinPick App (iOS App Store; Google Play): A free tool that can help monitor nail-biting (though it was designed skin-picking). It will ask you to log when you bite or have the urge to bite, indicate the setting where that occurred, and it will allow you to track progress over time. The premium version provides some additional features for a small one-time cost.

• NailKeeper (iOS App Store; Google Play): A free tool to help you easily track progress and quit biting your nails. The primary feature of this application is a photo transition of your progress.