Taking a look at the habit of fingernail biting with what are possible causes and treatments available. Reading studies that use a diverse type of subjects from children to young adults. The causes are varied from nerves and anxiety to even boredom. It is valuable to know that punishment does not cure the behavior. It may seem that punishment will temporarily curb the behavior, but in fact any type of ridicule or punishment can do more harm to the person than the habit of nail biting itself. For long-term results it is best to use some sort of behavior to in place of the nail biting to eventually cure the habit. Substitute behaviors include anything to do with the hands keeping from getting close to mouth. This is referred to Habit Removal
…show more content…
Not only does it cause unsightly hands but it can due damage to our teeth, gums and skin around the nails. It is also is disgusting knowing what can live underneath most of our fingernails. Bacteria infections can occur from nail biting (Tanaka, Vitral, Tanaka, Guerrero, & Camargo, 2008) I find this most disturbing in children who do not wash their hands as frequently has they should. Growing up I definitely struggled with biting my nails and even peeling the skin around my nails. I have always thought of my habit being a result of nerves and anxiety. Not only was I embarrassed of the results that biting my nails left but I was also ashamed when my parents would point them out. Eventually I stopped biting my nails regularly yet I do experience times that I fall into nasty …show more content…
Punishment causes shame, which will only cause a temporary fix in the behavior. The cognitive behavioral techniques that have been used on children to stop them from biting their nails are based on cognitive and behavioral principles (Ghanizadeh, 2011). An example of this is when a person has the desire to bite their fingernails there is another behavior that is then put in place that will stop the movement of their hands towards their face or lips altogether (Ghanizadeh, 2011). The goal of this treatment is prevent the hands being close to the mouth to reduce the
Not only does it cause unsightly hands but it can due damage to our teeth, gums and skin around the nails. It is also is disgusting knowing what can live underneath most of our fingernails. Bacteria infections can occur from nail biting (Tanaka, Vitral, Tanaka, Guerrero, & Camargo, 2008) I find this most disturbing in children who do not wash their hands as frequently has they should. Growing up I definitely struggled with biting my nails and even peeling the skin around my nails. I have always thought of my habit being a result of nerves and anxiety. Not only was I embarrassed of the results that biting my nails left but I was also ashamed when my parents would point them out. Eventually I stopped biting my nails regularly yet I do experience times that I fall into nasty …show more content…
Punishment causes shame, which will only cause a temporary fix in the behavior. The cognitive behavioral techniques that have been used on children to stop them from biting their nails are based on cognitive and behavioral principles (Ghanizadeh, 2011). An example of this is when a person has the desire to bite their fingernails there is another behavior that is then put in place that will stop the movement of their hands towards their face or lips altogether (Ghanizadeh, 2011). The goal of this treatment is prevent the hands being close to the mouth to reduce the