Nail Biting - A Nasty Compulsion You Can Break With Hypnosis

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

Nail biting generally happens when people are in one of two modes. Some biters do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of a trance and not really thinking about what they are doing. It's often when they are engrossed 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 the most basic level, these symptoms satisfy an urge. Many report an almost uncontrollable compulsion 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 their nervous systems 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 have these habits find it so hard to give up these behaviors. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter what.

Even if you have more than one of these behaviors, do not give up. These behaviors can be overcome if you have a sufficient amount of 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 get down to realizing that you are just a person who simply happens to have a problem, you can 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. Self-hypnosis for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnosis & NLP For People Who Bite Their Nails

First of all, nail biting is a nervous 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 believe that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and NLP techniques can be quite 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 of the therapy teaches the nail biter awareness of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions are generally given to the unconscious mind to make the consciousness aware that you are bringing your hand towards your mouth. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

There are 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 a powerful method 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 his/her nails.

With this particular behavior, being realistic is very important. First, you have rehearsed the unwanted behavior hundreds or even thousands of times. You need to accept that the urge to bite your nails will not simply be overcome in a few days or weeks.

Secondly, you are fighting the fact that biting your nails feels good to do, and it offers short-term satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take time and effort to master, but it will be well worth it. Experience has shown a number of methods to be quite effective!

Biting your nails can be a particularly annoying behavior. Many nail biters are not aware that they are biting their nails until afterwards. Some biters are fully aware, as though it is a part of a ritual. This article takes a look at this symptom and how to go about reducing or eliminating it.

Alan B. Densky, CH is a hypnotheraist & NLP Practitioner specializing in stress related symptoms. He offers Hypnotherapy CDs which eradicate the nail biting compulsion. Visit his Neuro-VISION Self Hypnosis website for access to his FREE hypnosis article library, or to download his MP3s.

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