Nail biting is related to skin picking and hair pulling. Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. People who bite their nails often keep their hands in their pockets. People who bite their nails often feel shame and social embarrassment and experience out-of-control feelings at times. They often wonder why they cannot stop biting and they may question whether or not they are crazy.

Biting usually happens when nail biters are in one of two modes. Some biters do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of a trance and not thinking about what they are doing. Usually they are immersed in some other activity at the same time such as watching TV or working on the computer, etc. For others, their main activity at the time is the actual picking or biting, and they will usually interrupt their other activities to engage in it.

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

When sufferers feel stressed, pulling, picking or biting has a kind of soothing effect on their nervous systems 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 suffer from these habits find it so hard to give up these behaviors. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter what the consequences.

Even if you have more than one of these behaviors, don't give up on yourself. These negative behaviors can be overcome if you have the 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 some or all of these things at times. Once you become aware of the fact that you are just a person who simply happens to have a problem, you can make some serious progress.

Skin picking and nail biting are chronic problems, so there currently isn't a "cure" but you can find relief if you are willing to work at it. Hypnosis for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnosis For Nail Biting

First of all, nail biting is a stress related habit. So the first part of the hypnotic therapy is to teach the nail biter how to be more relaxed at all times. To that end, I believe that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques can be 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 teaches the nail biter to become aware of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions are given to the subconscious mind to make the consciousness aware that you are bringing your hand towards your mouth. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

There are also several other much more effective hypnosis and NLP methods. For example, we can help the client to set up an "Anchor" or trigger so that he/she can momentarily disassociate. This is a powerful method that will effectively relieve the urge to bite.

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 this particular compulsion, being realistic is very important. First off, you have rehearsed the unwanted behavior hundreds or even thousands of times. You must accept that the behavior of biting your nails will not be overcome in a few days.

Secondly, you are fighting the fact that it feels good to do, and it offers a lot of short-term satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take a little time to overcome, but I believe it is well worth it. Experience has shown a number of methods to be very effective!

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Alan B. Densky, CH is a hypnotheraist & NLP Practitioner specializing in stress related behaviors. He offers Hypnotherapy & NLP CDs that eradicate the nail biting compulsion. Reach him at the Neuro-VISION Hypnosis self help site. Visit his FREE hypnosis article repository, or download his MP3s. http://www.neuro-vision.us/Hypnosis-Article-Index.html