Nail Biting? Pulling At Your Hair? These Are Nervous Habits, But, Thankfully, These Are Treatable

Nerves and anxiety can manifest in many different ways and for some of us, they may be in the form of nervous habits.  

Habits are repetitive nervous behaviors that you might exhibit to reduce tension – which is normal. However, if it is something that you or someone you care for wants to stop there are ways to mitigate it.  

Check out these common nervous habits and how to resolve them. 

Nail Biting 

Nail biting is among the most common nervous habits that many people develop in their childhood and can carry into adulthood. Aside from the visually unappealing results of this habit, it can also cause pain, soreness, and damage to the tissue around the nail. Luckily there are a multitude of tips and tricks for stopping this habit.  

Remedies  

• Regularly trim nails short – Keeping your nails at a consistently short length eliminates some of the temptation to bite them. 

• Try a gel or acrylic manicure – Having gel or acrylic on your nails makes it very difficult to bite and takes away the satisfaction of chewing on your nails. Spending money can also act as a motivator to avoid ruining your manicure. 

• Anti-biting nail polish – You can find special anti-biting nail polish that acts as a “bitter flavored deterrent” at local stores like target and Walmart. This concept can also be DIY’d with other poor tasting alternatives such as applying hot sauce, or salt to your nails.  

Knuckle Cracking 

Cracking your knuckles can be a distracting habit not only for yourself but for those around you. The satisfaction of the act is a result of the releasing of air and pressure in your joints. Contrary to the common misconception that knuckle cracking leads to arthritis, there are no proven harms to this habit. However, if you find the habit to be an annoyance, here are some tips for stopping.  

Prevention Tips 

• Fidget products – Self-regulation products like fidget toys and stress balls can act as an alternative distraction to this habit. 

• Stretching – Taking time to stretch your hands and arms can offer some of the relief felt by cracking your knuckles.  

Hair twirling/pulling 

Wrapping your hair around your fingers is likely one of the least harmful habits you can have. Although it’s harmless at face value, hair twirling can be the steppingstone to a disorder known as trichotillomania – a hair pulling impulse control disorder which often results in hair loss and bald patches. To ensure that the habit doesn’t evolve to that level, try these tips. 

How to stop 

• Keep your hair in a bun – A hairstyle like a bun or braid can help you avoid the temptation of twirling or pulling your hair. Similarly, you can also try wearing a scarf or hat. 

• Keep a brush with you – Consider replacing the urge to pull or twirl your hair by keeping a brush with you to comb through it instead.   

Teeth Grinding  

Teeth grinding is a habit that many people exhibit while sleeping as well as while awake. Unfortunately, this is a habit that can have harmful symptoms. Dental problems such as chipped or flattened teeth, worn enamel, tooth sensitivity and pain, and jaw issues can occur as a result of this habit. 

Treatment 

• Mouth guard – Your dentist can provide you with a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding. 

• Botox – The injection can be used to inhibit muscle movement involved in teeth grinding.  

Ultimately, when it comes to breaking a nervous habit, figuring out the underlying issue of the behavior is always a good place to start. If you can understand what is bringing about your nerves or anxiety, you are more likely to be able to help it.