You Can Use Self-Hypnosis To Break The Nail Biting Habit

Nail biting is related to skin picking and hair pulling. Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. People who bite their nails often keep their hands in their pockets. People who bite their nails often feel social embarrassment and experience out-of-control feelings at times. At times they may wonder why they are not able to stop and they often question whether or not they are sane.

Biting generally happens when nail biters are in one of two modes. Some do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of altered state and not thinking about what they are doing. It's often when they are immersed in some other activity at the same time such as watching TV or working on the computer, etc. For others, their main activity at the time is the actual picking or biting, and they will usually interrupt their other activities to engage in it.

There is also a strong commonality in the various purposes behind hair pulling, skin picking and nail biting. At a very basic level, these symptoms satisfy an urge. Many people report an uncontrollable urge to do them. Biting, picking or pulling also seems to deliver a pleasurable or relaxed sensation.

When sufferers feel stressed, pulling, picking or biting has a kind of soothing effect on them and reduces levels of stimulation. On the other hand, when they are bored or inactive, they seem to provide a needed level of stimulation to the nervous system. This may account for why so many people who dislike doing them find it so hard to give up these behaviors. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter no matter what the outcomes are.

Even if you suffer from more than one of these behaviors, don't despair. These negative behaviors can be overcome if you have enough motivation. More important is learning to "de-stigmatize" yourself. You are not crazy, helpless, morally weak or totally out of control, even though you may feel like it at times. Once you become aware of the fact that you are just a person who simply happens to have a bad habit, you can start to make some serious progress.

Skin picking and nail biting are chronic problems, so there is not currently a "cure" but you can find relief if you are willing to work at it. Therapy for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnosis For Nail Biting

First of all, nail biting is a stress related habit. So the first part of the hypnotherapy is to teach the sufferer how to be more relaxed at all times. To that end, I have found that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques can be very effective. That's because the very essence of hypnosis is relaxation. The person can learn to apply several different methods to enhance both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of well-being.

The second part teaches the individual awareness of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions are generally given to the unconscious to make the conscious mind aware that you are bringing your hand towards your mouth for the purpose of biting your nails. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

There are also several other much more effective hypnosis and NLP methods. For example, we can help the client to set up an "Anchor" or trigger so that he/she can momentarily disassociate. This is an excellent technique that will effectively relieve the compulsion.

The third part of the hypnotherapy is to eliminate the compulsion to bite the nails. There are hypnotic and NLP methods that actually program the client with a compulsion to not bite.

With the nail biting behavior, being realistic is very important. First off, you have rehearsed the unwanted behavior thousands of times. It is important to accept that the urge to bite your nails will not be overcome in a few days or weeks.

Secondly, you are fighting the fact that biting your nails feels good to do, and it provides much short-range satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take time and effort to master, but I believe it is well worth the effort. My experience has shown a number of methods to be very effective!

Alan B. Densky, CH is a hypnotheraist & NLP Practitioner specializing in stress related behaviors. He offers Hypnotherapy & NLP CDs that eradicate the nail biting compulsion. Reach him at the Neuro-VISION Hypnosis self help site. Visit his FREE hypnosis article collection, or download his MP3s. http://www.neuro-vision.us/Hypnosis-Article-Index.html