Does biting your nails become so second nature that you don’t even realize you’re doing it? Has someone you know become so overwhelmed and stressed that they’ve succumbed to gnawing off their fingertips? Nail-biting is one of those subtle little urges that feel so small, yet it’s so tough to avoid. Millions of people do it—children and adults alike—so why do people bite their nails, why is it so widespread, and why is it so hard to stop?
Biting one’s nails (known as onychophagia if you want to sound medical), is not just an unattractive habit or one of those actions that separates manicured hands from those that aren’t. It’s neurological and pathological. Some people bite their nails by choice, some by anxiety, some out of hunger, and for many others, it becomes a condition response of which they are unaware. This article goes into greater detail about why people bite their nails and breaks down the triggers, the conditioned response, and what it means to engage in such an act. If you’re a notorious nail-biter or simply curious about the facts because someone’s fingers find their way to their mouths, read on.
Why Do People Bite Their Nails?
Usually, there is a reason someone bites their nails. There’s a stimulus, and in response, nail-biting occurs. Think of stress. Remember the last time you were stressed? Holding your breath waiting for test results? Sitting through a long meeting? Your hands become fidgety, and before you know it, you’re chomping down on your digit. Stress causes people to bite their nails, as if their bodies react to it and say, “I need to do something about this!” Nail-biting provides immediate secondary engagement as it channels excess energy.
But it’s not only stress. It’s boredom. Consider it; you’re in a boring lecture, you’re aimlessly scrolling on your phone with no real engagement to be had. Your hands are free and nail-biting becomes a mindless exercise. It’s the same thing as fiddling with a fidget spinner. For others, it’s just something to occupy one’s time when there’s nothing to occupy.
Then it gets complicated because stress is compounded by anxiety, but anxiety is different from stress. Anxiety is present. It’s that ongoing fear and trepidation which causes people to try and get rid of it. Nail-biting is an expulsion of energy; it’s cathartic because although it doesn’t fix the problem temporarily, it seems to, at that time, alleviate it. Have you ever seen someone bite their nails while watching a horror movie or waiting for lab results? That’s anxiety.
Nail biting is an interesting phenomenon, however, because it’s not always associated with bad feelings, either. Some people bite their nails when they’re thinking. It’s almost as if their brain is working harder than their hands; simultaneously, something needs to be done. If they’re trying to work out some long math problem or trying to figure out an event in the future, their nails become the casualty of that psychic energy.
Why Does Nail-Biting Become a Habit?
But why does nail biting become a habit? It’s one thing to bite your nails every now and again, but for many it becomes a habit—and that’s because of how our brains are built and function. When you bite your nails and get that pang of stress or boredom, and then the brain registers that this feels good—not as good as chocolate or cheesecake, but good enough—good enough for your brain to say “That was a positive experience. Let’s repeat that in the future.”
Thus, the more one gives into biting their nails that one time, the more it becomes learned behavior and more of a stimulus for response in the future. Oooh look, I’m stressed, time to bite my nails. Ooooh I feel slightly better—and now my brain knows it can compute this path forward in the future because now, what used to be slight pain from digits is relief. Eventually, the more this happens, all the time, you increase nail-biting without thought. You don’t consciously think about it. Much like brushing your teeth or checking your phone first thing in the morning—you do it because the more people experiment with the stimulus, the harder it is to retrain their thought patterns and actions make sense because it’s so hardwired into routine.
This is compounded by the idea that habits become more entrenched by association. For example, if you bite your nails every time you watch a television show or when stuck in traffic, those situations become stimuli for your brain to say “Ah yes! It’s biting time!” and the action becomes easier and easier to replicate over time without a second thought. You’ve probably found yourself trying to stop nail biting only to have it come to your awareness when it’s so far gone, without memory of having started again, That’s the habit working.
Another reason that nail-biting becomes addictive and habitual is because it’s so accessible. Your hands are always on you, there’s no effort involved. If some people take their additive behavior and transfer it to something else like smoking, overeating—there’s a need for props, situations; nail-biting is instantaneous. It’s right there at their disposal and even more difficult to resist because it’s so easy.
Who Bites Nails?
There are specific demographics within which nail biting occurs, but it’s not isolated to one type of person or age category. Children, teenagers, and adults bite their nails. Children tend to bite their nails when they see someone else biting theirs, a sibling or parent, and once they have that learned behavior it continues. Sometimes they bite their nails as a reaction to significant life changes like shifting to a new school. Have you ever seen a little kid biting his nails on the first day of summer camp? I have.
Teenagers fall into the nail-biting category as well. They are pressured by school, each other and social media trends which cause them to instinctively turn to nail biting as a coping mechanism that needs immediate resolution. Teenagers are often more self-conscious as well so they might not even realize they’re doing it when they’re in public.
Adults bite their nails as well. One would think that by the time someone is an adult—for example, in college, freshly graduated, with a job lined up—they would have their lives together enough by that time to avoid biting their nails from anxiety. Wrong. Adults bite their nails from job anxiety challenges, family woes, and even just because they never learned how to stop biting their nails. It doesn’t mean that confident adults who have their lives together can’t bite their nails; it doesn’t mean that any certain type of person is insecure, inexperienced or anxious; it’s just something people do.
Strangely, certain populations are more prone to nail-biting than others. If you’re a “fidgeter,” if you’re the type of person who can’t keep still, tapping their pen, shaking their leg, you might bite your nails as well. Your body is always in motion; nail-biting comes naturally as a channel for that input. In addition, personality traits lead to higher populations of nail-biters. If someone is naturally anxious, a perfectionist, they are less likely to feel settled about their condition and more likely under pressure to bite their nails.
What Are the Effects of Nail-Biting?
There are many effects of nail-biting, some surprising. First, the effects on the nails themselves. A bitten nail is ragged, uneven, painful. Have you ever bitten your nails so low that it hurts? I have. After years of biting my nails, I’ve seen damage done to my nail beds from regular nail-biting over time which hinders the quality of toenail and fingernail re-growth years after some like myself will have forever uneven nails.
But beyond the nails, skin suffers as well. Skin around the nails can become sore, painful, and infected. Let’s say the nail isn’t bitten down too far, but maybe the individual enjoys chewing their cuticles or skin surrounding the nail. It gets inflamed and infected as the skin gets red and peels off from the repeated biting and chewing. There is so much bacteria in our mouths, and while we think it’s normal to bite our nails, the bite down creates micro-tears in the skin where our saliva-induced germs enter and create infection and inflammation.
Nail biting also causes negative self-perception. For example, if you are self-conscious, short, uneven nails only add to the insecurity, meaning you may purposely keep your hands away from selfies or avoid nail salons because you’re embarrassed. In addition, many people find nail biting distressing because it makes people feel out of control as they bite but cannot stop. Nail biting seems like it could be an involuntary reaction which heightens one’s frustration levels.
Then there are social consequences. Whether someone sees you bite your nails and assumes it’s a “nervous” or “immature” thing, people don’t have many nice things to say about nail bitters. They may encounter you in a job interview and see you unconsciously biting your nails and leave them with a negative impression as a potential employer. Even if you don’t hear the coughs or the side eye, you’ll assume people are judging you, and that itself is anxiety-inducing.
Your teeth suffer, too. Biting your nails puts unnecessary pressure on your front teeth when your front bite doesn’t get used to that gossip. This could lead to a chipped tooth or TMJ as you create more pressure than your bite is supposed to create. Many develop dental issues after years of nail-biting—although not common. —
Why is it so hard to stop nail biting?
If it’s so negative, why not just remove this action from our lives? It should be easy! But it’s hard to break the habit for a variety of reasons. First, it’s so second nature that you aren’t aware that you’re doing it until it’s too late. You might say, “I will no longer bite my nails.” Yet the next time you’re nervous or bored, there you go…biting your nails again.
Another complication is that nail-biting itself is a reward, albeit a small one. Even if it feels good for only a brief moment, that good feeling of temporary relief or distraction draws people back into the habit. It’s like when you have an itch and scratch it; you know it’s not always the best choice, but it feels so good in that instant. Thus, finding some other form of reward instead of biting is extremely challenging. It’s not enough to stop; a substitution plan must be formulated.
In addition, there are psychological investments. For example, if someone bites her nails out of anxiety or stress, stopping means seeking another channel for anxiety or stress. This is quite difficult, just like how one cannot take away someone’s morning cup of coffee without a comparable substitute; chances are they will slip back into their habits without an appropriate substitute.
Moreover, there are social implications for those who have been nail-bitters for years…nails may be short, or they may be jagged from the habit, or they may be damaged. Thus, when someone decides to reduce nail-biting, her fingers may still look rough and thus tempt even more biting. It’s a cycle; nails look nastier because they’ve been bitten, and nastier nails want people to bite more. It may take a long time to get out of this routine.
How Can People Stop Biting Their Nails?
People can stop biting their nails, and while it’s no easy feat, it is achievable. The first step is awareness. People need to be conscious of how often they’re biting their nails and when/why. Are they stressed? Bored? Once you acknowledge the trigger, it’s easier to catch yourself beforehand and prevent getting on the nail biting train. It’s like an internal alarm that says, “Hey, don’t do that!”
Another way to prevent nail biting is to keep fingernails short. If there’s not as much nail to bite at as there is to begin with, it becomes more complicated to start. People can trim their fingernails every few days or go for a manicure. Also, a pretty hand may make someone less inclined to ruin their aesthetic—for instance, people getting a fresh coat of nail polish are less likely to bite afterward.
Also, fidgeting is a great way to stop people from biting their nails. If their hands are busy playing with fidget spinners or stress balls, they can’t bite. If someone is bored and that leads them to bite their nails, get a new distraction—doodle something small or do three minutes of Wordle. That’s all it takes—temporary redirection, and the issue goes away.
For some people, there’s nail polish that tastes terrible and serves as a deterrent for those who forget—for whatever reason. It’s not the bigger fix for nail biting, but it can serve as a temporary reminder that keeps people from putting their fingernails in their mouths. The drug store is a simple purchase away with no requirements aside from applying it each time.
Those who bite their nails because they’re under stress need to find ways to actively reduce stress in their lives. They won’t be able to avoid the stressor permanently—everyone’s going to be stressed at some point—but they can find other avenues for coping. Deep breathing, stretching, or a short walk can remind people they’re not limited to actions related to stress triggers.
Finally, people need to be patient with themselves. If they refrain from biting their nails for one week and then find themselves doing it the following week, it’s not the end of the world. It takes time to overcome habits. Celebrate milestones—one day or two without biting is an accomplishment!
What Does Nail-Biting Say About a Person?
Nail-biting doesn’t say much about a person; it simply shows what’s going on within someone’s mind. More specifically, it shows that someone could be overwhelmed by stress or boredom or something anxiety-triggering. It’s nothing to be ashamed of—it’s a default human response to life and all its glory. There are quirks of being human, and nail-biting is one of the most prevalent in society.
At the same time, nail-biting shows strength. Even if someone bites their nails, they still get on with work, school, or everything else they need to do in life—they appear relatively normal. It’s a small habit—it’s not a flaw in character. So if you’re one of those people who bit their nails, don’t worry; you’re not alone while accomplishing everything else in life yet also being a nail-biter.
For some people, it’s a phase. Children bite their nails; adults bite their nails; it’s all around—but as life settles or children grow older, they might outgrow the habit and never revisit it again. For others, it’s an extensive behavior that pops up somewhat frequently—but it doesn’t need deep contemplation. It will be simple enough to manage as long as people put in the work.
Conclusion
Nail-biting is one of those habits that’s easy to do and hard to avoid. Whether it comes out of stress, boredom, or just an active mind, it’s a behavior that millions of others display throughout society, there’s a child nibbling nervously on his first day at school and adults chomping on challenging days at work just trying to get through. It won’t be the end of the world if someone has chipped nails or any period of insecurity.
The good news? You can take control. Acknowledge why you’re biting your nails, and when possible, find other coping mechanisms; whether it’s keeping your hands busy, utilizing bitter excuse “polish,” or confronting stress head-on—you’ll never know until you try new alternatives. Every time you catch yourself nibbling, take a step back and ask: What am I doing? What can I do instead? You might be surprised how much control you have over such a tiny action.
Nail-biting should not make you less competent in life or less confident; it only shows you’re human and whatever you’re going through isn’t as bad as it seems since everyone has their struggles, too. So whether you’re a lifelong nail biter or someone just looking and wondering why others do it, remember you’re not alone—and with a little effort, those nails can be safe!