Nail biting, also referred to as onychophagia, is an oral compulsive habit to bite the nails and fingertips.
In 2012, the American Psychiatric Association decided to re-classify onychophagia as a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, along with other forms of “pathological grooming.”
OCD traps individuals in an endless cycle of repetitive behavior and thoughts.
Nail biting starts during childhood, increases notably during adolescence, and declines with age. However, the habit may continue into adulthood.
According to statistics, about 30% of children, 45% of teenagers, 25% of young adults, and 5% of older adults bite their nails.
Common symptoms may include:
- pain around the nail bed;
- extremely short nails;
- hangnails – jagged pieces of skin which jut out from around the sides of the fingernails;
- uncontrolled nail-biting;
- bleeding of soft tissues;
- hard bumps or calluses;
- damaged skin around the nails and tips of fingers;
- bleeding around the nails.
Causes of onychophagia include:
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This condition is described by a feeling the constant need to keep something in the mouth.
Some researchers linked it to an impaired mother-child relationship.
Some nail-biters can spend tremendous time examining and grooming their nails for irregularities and then trying to fix these issues.
Some individuals bite their nails when they feel guilty about something or some situation.
In addition, some individuals may tend to punish themselves by biting their nails to get over the guilty feeling.
For some, this habit is a reaction of their hands towards boredom.
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Some studies have established that when people face stressful situations, they are somehow compelled to bite their nails as it may seem to ease the tension.
The mental illnesses most often reported in association with onychophagia in children and adolescents presenting to a mental healthcare clinic are:
- major depressive disorder;
- mental retardation;
- obsessive-compulsive disorder;
- tic disorder;
- enuresis (a repeated inability to control urination);
- separation anxiety disorder;
- oppositional defiant disorder;
- attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Even if nail-biters wash their hands regularly, there will always be some viruses, bacteria, and parasites under the fingernails at the edge of the fingers. Hence, onychophagia can be the cause of various infections.
Additionally, about 25 percent of patients with temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction have the nail-biting habit.
You can also crack, chip, or break your teeth when you bite your nails.
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Spiritual Meaning of Nail Biting
Among other things, nails can be used to scratch and for protection.
Nail-biting often indicates the fear of showing aggression, which often occurs when parents exert too much pressure on children and demonstrate a lack of confidence.
A child who bites his nails tries to have more self-confidence.
Give your child the freedom to express all aspects of his character without feeling guilty.
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To kick this habit, it is recommended to use these tips:
- try to gradually stop biting your nails – some scientists recommend taking a gradual approach to breaking this habit;
- identify your triggers – by figuring out what causes you to bite your nails, you can figure out how to avoid these situations;
- support groups can help to cope with the symptoms and improve the quality of one’s life;
- replace the nail-biting habit with a good habit;
- cover your nails with tape or stickers or wear gloves to prevent biting;
- get regular manicures – spending money to keep your nails looking attractive may make you less likely to bite them;
- apply bitter-tasting nail polish to your nails;
- keep your nails trimmed short.
- behavioral therapy is considered to be effective in this case since it starts with helping the individual figure out what are the situations that trigger this habit;
- dialectic behavior therapy – this type of psychotherapy is recommended for individuals with severe personality disturbances.
Images credit – Shutterstock
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References https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5141299/ http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/070674379904400105
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As a founder and chief author at InsightState.com, Bulgarea Candin helps readers on their spiritual journeys. His writings are designed to inspire creativity and personal growth, guiding readers on their journey to a more fulfilled and enlightened life.
Kuuma kucha, pia huitwa onychophagia, ni tabia ya kulazimisha mdomo kuuma kucha na vidole. Katika 2012, Chama cha American Psychiatric Association iliamua kuorodhesha tena onychophagia kama aina ya ugonjwa wa obsessive-compulsive, pamoja na aina nyingine za "kufua ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa wa ugonjwa. Kuuma kucha huanza utotoni, huongezeka hasa wakati wa kubalehe, na hupungua kadiri mtu anavyozeeka. Hata hivyo, zoea hilo laweza kuendelea hadi mtu mzima anapokuwa mtu mzima. Kulingana na takwimu, karibu asilimia 30 ya watoto, asilimia 45 ya matineja, asilimia 25 ya vijana, na asilimia 5 ya watu wazima huuma kucha zao. Dalili za kawaida zinaweza kuwa: - maumivu karibu na kitanda cha kucha; - kucha fupi sana; - kucha za kucha; vipande vya ngozi vilivyochongoka vinavyotoka karibu na pande za kucha; - kuumwa kwa kucha bila kudhibitiwa; - kutokwa na damu kwa tishu laini; - bumps ngumu au calluses; - ngozi iliyoharibiwa karibu na kucha na ncha za vidole; - kutokwa na damu karibu na kucha. Onychophagia ni ugonjwa wa Candida ambao unahusishwa na hisia ya kuwa na kitu fulani kinywani. Watafiti fulani walihusianisha jambo hilo na uhusiano ulioharibika kati ya mama na mtoto. Watu wengi wanaotumia kuku kwa muda mrefu sana huchunguza na kutayarisha kucha zao ili kuona kama kuna kasoro, na kisha kujaribu kurekebisha tatizo hilo. Watu fulani huuma kucha zao wanapohisi hatia kwa sababu ya jambo fulani au hali fulani. Kwa kuongezea, huenda watu fulani wakawa na mwelekeo wa kujidhuru kwa kuumwa kucha zao ili kuondoa hisia za hatia. Kwa wengine, zoea hilo ni mwitikio wa mikono yao kwa uchovu. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala hii, ""Kukosa "" ni dalili ya kwamba watu wanapoona hali ya mkazo, wanahisi kwamba wanalazimika kuuma kucha zao kwa sababu huenda ikaonekana kwamba hilo hupunguza mkazo." Ugonjwa wa akili unaoripotiwa mara nyingi kuhusiana na onychophagia kwa watoto na vijana wanaohudhuria kliniki ya huduma ya afya ya akili ni: - ugonjwa mkubwa wa kushuka moyo; - retardation ya akili; - ugonjwa wa obsessive-compulsive; - ugonjwa wa tic; - enuresis (kutokuwa na uwezo wa kudhibiti mkojo); - ugonjwa wa wasiwasi wa kutenganisha; - ugonjwa wa upinzani; - ugonjwa wa upungufu wa umakini. Hata kama watu wanaokula kucha huosha mikono yao mara kwa mara, daima kutakuwa na virusi, bakteria, na vimelea chini ya kucha kwenye pembe za vidole. Kwa hiyo, onychophagia yaweza kusababisha maambukizo mbalimbali. Kwa kuongezea, karibu asilimia 25 ya wagonjwa wenye maumivu ya kiungo cha temporomandibular na dysfunction wana tabia ya kula kucha. Pia unaweza kuvunja au kuvunja meno yako unapokula kucha zako. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Muhimu wa kiroho wa mikono baridi"" ni ""Muhimu wa kiroho wa kuumwa kwa kucha"" - ni nini kinachohusiana na kuumwa kwa kucha?" Kuuma kucha mara nyingi huonyesha hofu ya kuonyesha jeuri, ambayo mara nyingi hutokea wakati wazazi wanapowasukuma sana watoto na kuonyesha ukosefu wa ujasiri. Mtoto anayekula kucha zake anajaribu kuwa na uhakika zaidi katika yeye mwenyewe. Mruhusu mtoto wako aonyeshe tabia zake bila kujisikia hatia. "Kama unajua, ""Astral Projection"" ni njia ya kuzuia kuumwa na kuku, na ""kuchukua hatua kwa hatua"" ni njia ya kuzuia kuumwa na kuku, na ""kuchukua hatua kwa hatua"" ni njia ya kuzuia kuumwa na kuku, na ""kuchukua hatua kwa hatua"" ni njia ya kuzuia kuumwa na kuku." - tiba ya tabia inachukuliwa kuwa na ufanisi katika kesi hii tangu huanza na kusaidia mtu binafsi kujua ni nini hali ambayo kusababisha tabia hii; - tiba ya tabia dialectic <unk> aina hii ya psychotherapy ni ilipendekeza kwa watu wenye matatizo makubwa ya utu. "Kama ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa, ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" katika historia ya ulimwengu wa kisasa." Maandishi yake yameundwa kuchochea ubunifu na ukuaji wa kibinafsi, kuongoza wasomaji katika safari yao ya maisha ya kukamilika na kuangazia.