I have a very bad habit. It used to be smoking but I gave that up a year ago cold turkey. Now my bad habit is biting my nails down to the point where my fingers hurt or they bleed. I have done this all my life and I cant seem to break the habit. Does anyone have any good tips or ideas that I may try?

They have things you can buy to put on your nails that taste really bad. But when I stopped biting my nails it was because I paid to have them done at a salon. I just thought they were to pretty to mess up, that might help too.

Congrats on beating smoking! That's awesome.

When I practice meditation, all of my bad habits are lessened.

Maybe this is anxiety related? This could be an opportunity to get at the root cause, improving your well being in other areas.

Otherwise: Wrap them in 0.5" strips of duct tape for a week!!

yeah I say getting them done at a salon would make you think twice before you bite on them, lol

manicures...what a great idea!
nice acrilic nails would probably do the trick...they are probably to hard to bite...plus too expensive.

try it until you think you have broken the habit.
But be careful, I have known some women that used them for too long and they dont allow your natural nails to breath. So when they are removed, you end up with a whole new set of problems.

Also you may want to speak with a counselor regarding behavior modification therapy or hand and mouth fixations.

Now that you have given up smokes and try to give up the biting, what may you switch to next....see what I mean?
just some suggestions.

Good luck

ughhhhhhhhhhhh my sons dad used to do that.....it was nerves1!! just watching him chew his fingers would literally make me sick!!!

I think you should soak your fingers in louisiana hot sauce or tabasco sauce.....and then try and chew!!

I am on my 5th.day of non-smoking,when does the erge weakin'?

I bit my nails habitually all my life but when I split with my ex boyfriend of ten years the urge to nibble my digits subsided and now I have really long and shaeply nails. When I look down at my fingers now I am so proud and feel so feminine compared to the gnarled stumps that they used to be. My incentive for you bearsfan is the extra dimension of beauty and femininity that long fingernails give you!

Thanks for all the tips. As for the salon...I have had my nails done before but the urge has been there so strongly I have chewed through the fake nails before or torn them off to chew at my real nails. Never good... I think alot of it has to do to stress or nerves personally. I know I chew them when I get nervous. I may have to try the meditation or ductape/hot sauce idea. Hmmm... I'll keep ya guys updated.

Yeah I tried for 5 days to not bite my nails... I dont think I even lasted 3 hours... Grrr... Stupid oral fixations.