Do You Chew Your Nails? - Page 2

kkoehler · #11 27-07-2007, 03:35 PM

Weird thing is I used to bite my nails but since the PTSD, I've stopped only to begin other bad habits. Its like I'm different person now, habits, dress and all.

skyward_falls · #12 31-07-2007, 06:42 PM

I will chew and bite my nails down so low on the nail bed it my fingers will throb and bleed and just plain hurt for a few days. I dig into the sides of the nail and at the cuticle with my teeth. Its a nervous habit of mine. I get so carried away with it I don't realize that the whole room could be staring at me in disgust - nor would I care because I am busy. :-P

goingonhope · #13 05-08-2007, 03:39 PM

Yes, I most certainly chew my nails from stress. A disgusting habit I know given the possibility of what bacteria may be underneath them, and even after hands have been washed.

I remember once reading news coverage of a number of newborns that were getting deathly ill, and if I recall correctly I do believe some of them died from the bacteria that was later found underneath the fingernails of the nurses working with them, in the newborn facility of a hospital. Eversince, when I wash my hands I do make sure I wash thouroughly underneath the nails too and nearly each time.

I use to rip both my nails and toenails off, and just as was said, until they bled, but this was always accidental (tearing to far) and always quite painful. I now discipline myself to use clippers, but I haven't thus far ever gotten over the nail biting. Well, once I had acryllic nails and that worked perfectly to stop the nail biting, for a time.

Still a nail biter.

Marlene · #14 05-08-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goingonhope

I now discipline myself to use clippers, but I haven't thus far ever gotten over the nail biting.

I've done the same thing. If I keep them trimmed down with the clippers, I don't bite them. Plus I had a MRSA infection earlier this year and I was told that under my fingernails is one of the biggest places for that bacteria to hide. So keeping them trimmed has an extra added incentive

cookie · #15 06-08-2007, 02:49 PM

i keep mine short for school, it is too easy to scratch someone by accident. plus, they break frequently. don't chew them.
cathy

Grama-Herc · #16 01-01-2008, 04:05 AM

I use to bite them untill the would bleed. My family even tried bribery when I was a kid to get me to quit.

I have no idea when or why I quit

Nam · #17 04-01-2008, 03:23 PM

I still chew them. It's an early sign of anxiety for me. I know that if my nails are gone...well, I'm having a rough day. I need to work on quitting that bad habit since I hate the way they look and feel when I've bitten them off. As of right now, I've got a bloody nail (bit too much) on my right pointer finger. Dang holidays!!

pandora · #18 08-01-2008, 09:33 AM

Nope...thank goodness this is one of the things...I do not do.

empowered · #19 29-01-2008, 05:20 PM

No...very germ conscious being a nurse. I keep my hands away from my eyes or mouth when in a public place expecially shopping centres...and wash my hands frequently....told constantly at work to wash your hands, that they are the worst carriers of bacteria.

sunnydaze · #20 30-01-2008, 01:41 PM

I rip my nails apart teating off the layers most of the time they bleed. Sometimes the entire nail comes off. It drives my husband nuts, this is his only complaint of me even with the PTSD, he deals with that much better. I have been doing this for almost 50 years. I tried leaving them short so I wouldn't bite them and using nail polish but I would chew or rip off the polish.
sunnydaze