12 Expert-Backed Tips To Help You Stop Biting Your Nails

It’s estimated that between 20 and 30 percent of the population struggles to quit nipping at their fingernails on a daily basis. But that doesn’t mean that the issue is a lost cause. According to experts, it can be done, dropping the habit just takes a bit of effort.

Below are a few tips on how to stop biting your nails for good:
1. Identify your triggers

Before attempting to curb your nail-biting habit, it’s helpful to take a moment to identify what is causing you to bite your nails in the first place.

People bite their nails for many reasons, said Paul DePompo, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Southern California. According to DePompo, the most common triggers include ruminating on a problem, ignoring your anger or feelings about an issue, or chewing as a mindless habit.

The key to stopping is to figure out what your trigger is and take action against it.

“You can try all the traditional things, like wearing gloves, chewing gum or using acrylic nails all you want to try to stop, but until you get to the root of your behavior, you’ll never be able to kick the habit once and for all,” said Kathryn Smerling, a New York-based therapist.

Source: huffingtonpost