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 shame and social embarrassment and experience out-of-control feelings at times. They often wonder why they can't stop biting their nails and they may question whether or not they are crazy.

Biting often happens when nail biters are in one of two modes. Some nail biters 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 reading or talking, etc. For others, their main activity at the time is the actual picking or biting, and they will frequently interrupt other activities to engage in it.

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

When sufferers feel stressed, doing these things 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 have these habits 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 have more than one of these problems, do not despair. These compulsive behaviors can be overcome if you have the 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 you are 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 make serious progress.

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

NLP & Hypnotherapy For People Who Bite Their Nails

First off, nail biting is a stress related habit. So the first part of the hypnotherapy is to teach the nail biter 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 sufferer 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 to become aware of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions can be given to the subconscious mind to make the consciousness aware that you are about to bite your nails. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

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

The third part of the hypnotherapy is to eliminate the compulsion to bite. There are NLP methods that actually program the client with a compulsion to reject biting his/her nails.

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

Second, you are fighting the fact that biting your nails feels good, and it provides much short-range satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take a little time to master, but it will be well worth it. Experience has shown a number of methods to be very effective!