Reasons for Nail Biting

Nail biting is a chronic habit that affects children, teenagers and adults. Nail biting often starts innocently with the person noticing a torn nail and biting it off. The person uses this habit in times of stress or boredom. Most of the time the nail biter is not aware of his actions; he merely bites his nails for relief from his present situation and only becomes aware of the habit when someone points it out to him.

Common Reasons

• Many people bit their nails when they feel stress. The action of nail biting calms them down (see Reference 1). Most of the time the person is not aware that he is engaging in nail biting; she simply begins doing it and continues until the stress factor is relieved. Another common reason for nail biting is boredom. Many times when a person is watching TV or reading she does not know what to do with her hands and feels the need to do something with them (see Reference 2). Yet another reason for nail biting is to stay awake and alert; usually people do this when driving.

Alternative

• Many people bite their nails as an alternative to another action. For example, when a person quits smoking they may take up nail biting when they get the urge to smoke (see Reference 3). If you do not feel stressed or bored but still find that you bite your nails consider what else is going on in your life. If you recently went on a diet, for example, this may be the cause of your nail biting.

Uncommon reasons

• Some people bite their nails because they have a poor self-image (see Reference 4). Others bite their nails because they have a misguided perfectionist instinct. Whenever they see a nail with the slightest irregularity, they feel compelled to bite it off to make it like the rest of the nails. Another theory on the reason for nail biting suggests it may be hereditary or genetic (see Reference 5). People who bite their nails tend to have children who bite their nails.

Diet and nutrition

• A deficiency in certain minerals such as calcium and magnesium may cause nail biting (see Reference 6). Include a multi vitamin with these minerals or take supplements if you suspect this could be the cause of your nail biting.

Anxiety

• When a person perceives a life threatening change to his environment, she may begin biting her nails. Events such as divorce, death of a loved one and job termination all bring anxiety to the individual. She may start nail biting to relieve the anxiety until the present situation is resolved to a better one.