I need to stop biting my fingers

[Haunted]

It's true, I don't bite my nails, I bite the skin that's around them.
I didn't really know where to put this so I just put this here. If I have to move it tell me where.
Okay, so I started when I was... I don't know, maybe 7 or 8 years old and it went on for 8 or 9 years.
When I look at my nails I only see pieces of skin that seem ready to fall and sometimes I bite so bad that my fingers bleed or hurt for weeks.
Since I don't like (well, hate) this habit of mine, I'm trying to stop.
I have to bite something instead of my skin, but I don't know what.
Usually I chew some gum or bite a stick of liquorice when I'm at home but the problem starts at school because the only thing I can bite is my pen and it's not a brilliant idea.
So, is there anyone who has had this kind of addiction? Or is there anyone who can help me stop?
Thank you!

[Le bonheur*]

I have no advice for you but since you asked if there was someone out there who does the same thing, I'm going to say that I do. I bite the sides of my fingers out of a nervous habit and it's gotten to the point of whenever I'm nervous, I bite them. It sucks. Just wanted to tell you that you're not alone & couldn't read and run. Good luck trying to find answers.

[Haunted]

a friend of mine suggested me to bite pencils, but I'm afraid that is not a brilliant idea. My mom says to wash my fingers with alcohol, but it would hurt because they're full of little cuts.
If I find a solution I'll tell you!

[Roy-kun231]

A good thing to do is to keep your hands occupied. That helps me. I play with my hair a lot when I talk to people (especially when nervous) and that helps take my mind off of my ugly, ugly nubs and fingers.

[Childish Giggle]

Here are a few sites about finger biting. Check em out. Or you can just type "thumb biting" on google and see more.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...5140141AAOcFxg
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2061806AAuADAG
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2142156AA2V910
http://allnurses.com/general-nursing...my-339950.html

[Squidgy]

My friend used to bite her fingers, her parents used to dip her fingers in vinegar so she wouldn't bite them. Kinda harsh but it worked.

[bailatyvm]

Yeah; I'd definitely either somehow flavor your fingers somehow or tell yourself that you have to do something negative such as run a mile every time you bite. If you can connect these negative actions together you might end up being less tempted to do them.

[Nicole!]

I think vinegar is a great idea, but you could also put something like tape or gloves on your hands so that you can't bite them.

[Haunted]

great ideas! I was thinking of putting plasters on my fingers but it's riddiculous, because a normal person doesn't hang out wearing 10 plasters on her hands. I tried to put something on them and it worked. I haven't been biting for 3 days

[Sincerely Yours ♥]

I do this as well (& also bite my finger nails). To prevent this, I cut my nails often & usually cut off the dead skin so I don't bite at it later. I also pick at the skin with my hands rather than my mouth. It's not much better, I guess, but it still keeps my fingers out of my mouth.

[blumemusik♫]

I went a week with plasters on my fingers to stop this habit. Yeah, I looked stupid, and got loads of questions, but it helped so much

Another method I used was to paint my nails, or wear fake ones. If my fingers looked pretty, I'd want to bite them less <3

[cardio]

I've also done this on and off basically my whole life. It used to be just a general habit, but now I do it mostly when I'm either bored or upset, which has been a lot lately. I haven't found any super effective things to stop, but my ex-boyfriend did the same thing and every time we noticed each other biting, we would push their hand away from their mouth. It helped quite a bit just to have someone to stop you, because at least for me I don't always realize I'm doing it until my finger starts hurting or bleeding.

[Maverick.]

Vinegar isn't a good idea. Pencils aren't that much better either.

Have you tried chewing gum? You can also try peppermints. Anything to keep your mind busy and distorted away from your nails.

[Magic.]

You can get stuff from chemists ... not nail paint although it is made for nails. It's a liquid rather than paint. I used it to stop biting my nails, but even just putting it on my nails made my whole fingers taste so bad I gagged every time I even touched my lips.
And as for the stinging issue, I used to btie the skin around my nails too so had cuts and it didn't sting at all. I got my stuff in the UK but I'm pretty sure most places do it. Go into a chemist and ask them for nail biting solutions, but liquids rather than nail paint. Seriously it stays on your fingers for like two days, washing your hands etc doens't make it go away. I put it on about 3 days ago and have removed and redone nail paint since and I can still taste it on my fingers. SO gross it works. Good luck!!

[craz33me]

I do the same thing, haha.

[Choyce97]

You aren't alone with your addiction. Im in HS now and with teachers helping me with work and alot of girls im trying to stop. Try putting stuff on your fingers. Keep yourself occupied with something else. Keep a band aid on your finger. Best in Luck!!!

[Haunted]

I tried anything.
I tried nail paint. It didn't work.
I tried chewing gum. It didn't work.
I tried pens. They didn't work.
I tried plasters, but they looked ridiculous.
I can't find anything else. I mean, no vinegar or other things to put on my fingers.
I stopped for a week or more, but I started again. I'm really nervous these days.

[Peppermint Tea.♥]

Hey there,
I know this sounds hard, but you've just got to keep trying. Even if you're serious about giving up, you're going to slip up now and again, particularly if there are things going on that are making you nervous.
Habits are hard to break, so just keep trying. You'll get there. When you realise you've slipped up and are biting again, stop straight away. Once you've noticed you're doing it you have the power. Once you've noticed you're doing it, try to distract yourself. Do something which keeps your hands busy, like making something.
Good luck. x

[Choose]

I used something similar to this for two days and I have completely stopped biting my fingers/ nails.

I also try and keep my hands occupied as much as possible.

[lost_soul]

I bite my nails and the surrounding skin all the time, it's a horrible habit. If I am trying to stop, I'll wear gloves when I can, make a conscience effort to sit on my hands when I can (such as when a teacher is talking to the class) and chew gum when possible. Also, replacing an addictive behaviour with another behaviour is often an affective way of overcoming the addiction, so try and find something else that you can regularly do with your hands. Perhaps you could carry around an elastic band wherever you go and snap it against a desk or your wrist, or just stretch it out between your fingers to preoccupy your hands. Or you could try to replace the biting with some other kind of behaviour such as stroking one hand with the other or clenching your fists, then relaxing and repeating it over and over. I know a lot of these suggestions sound odd and ineffective, but they're just methods I use and find helpful sometimes Good luck!