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Post by mattandchris on Jan 9, 2004 21:12:48 GMT -5
Some have recently written about chewing on clothing or playing with hair. Mine is a nail-biter. He is 13 and I don't remember ever having to clip his nails. Sitting next to him at church or some other function drives me up the wall. He is constantly chewing. Some of his fingers even bleed. Even though he is as old as he is it took us until last May to get him diagnosed (that is another long exhausting story) Does anyone have any clues on how to help him stop this? Thanks!
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Post by shardstar on Jan 10, 2004 11:01:12 GMT -5
Mine is only six and not only does she bite her nails, but she also bites her toenails if she can! (yuck) I have tried putting that nasty tasting nail polish on, telling her that if she stops biting she can wear some pretty nail polish, and nudging her every time I catch her doing it, and nothing has worked! I hope someone else will have some advice, beause I really need it too. Sorry I can't help...just wanted to commiserate.
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jdmom
Full Member
Posts: 80
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Post by jdmom on Jan 12, 2004 11:35:16 GMT -5
Mine does it too. And picks at the skin under and around his fingernails. Til it bleeds. Hope somebody has an idea, cause I've tried everything in the book.
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Post by drewsmom on Jan 12, 2004 13:04:37 GMT -5
BOY, does this sound familiar!!! !!! My son is also 13 and I have NEVER cut his fingernails since he was a baby!!! He doesn't make them bleed, but they are SO short that they look awful! Can't get him to quit! His brother, 11, has often asked him WHY he does that. He says he just can't help it. Just wanted to let you know, you're not alone!!!
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Post by geewiznit on Jan 13, 2004 3:25:02 GMT -5
I can sympathize! K, 12, has been biting her fingernails and toenails since she's had teeth . I despair for her, since her Dad has also been a nailbiter all his life, and his fingernails and fingertips are actually disfigured from all the abuse. I see the nailbiting as the physical manifestation of her anxiety, and since we've never been able to get the anxiety under control, the nails stay in the picture. She hates it too, but can't help herself.
This is really a much easier issue for boys. K has been to two birthday parties in the past couple of years that were held at nail salons with all the girls getting manicures--of course she just sat and watched and felt embarrassed. And so many birthday goodie bags have nail polish in them. We have a collection of colors in the medicine cabinet waiting for "someday", but I don't think it will ever come. I also think the nailbiting worsens the social difficulties--she looks odd with her fingers in her mouth all the time, and the thought that she is touching things with saliva coated fingers is pretty yucky.
The other day K found one of those little squishy stress ball things in the house (another goodie bag item, I think), and started taking it to school--she says squeezing it helps her not bite her nails---I don't have much hope for it, but you might want to give it a try. I think some drugstores sell them.
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Post by faith7th on Jan 13, 2004 10:22:46 GMT -5
I am 45 and still bite my nails. I have tried on occasion to stop with no luck. I don't even know when I do it. My mom used to say that I must do it in my sleep cause she would never see me with my fingers in my mouth. For me its a nasty habit. I look at it like this: I never smoked, or did anything else yucky, and don't drink in excess. So ....if thats all I am guilty of then so be it. If people comment on it I just shrug it off and tell them I don't like long nails anyway.....lol
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