Use Hypnosis To Break The Nail Biting Habit - What You Need To Know
Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are all related behaviors. These behaviors are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders or OCD. Nail biters often keep their hands in their pockets. Nail biters often feel social embarrassment and shame and experience out-of-control feelings at times. They often wonder why they cannot stop and they often question whether or not they are sane.
Nail biting generally happens when nail biters are in one of two modes. Some people do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of altered state and not really thinking about what they are doing. It is often when they are immersed in some other activity at the same time such as talking on the phone or watching TV, etc. For others, the deliberate picking or biting is their main activity at the time, and they will often interrupt their other activities to engage in it.
There is a strong commonality seen in the purposes behind these three problems (skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting). At a very basic level, these symptoms satisfy an urge. Many 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 dislike doing them 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 problems, don’t give up on yourself. These compulsive 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 start to make some serious progress.
Skin picking and nail biting are chronic problems, so there is not currently a “cure” but you can find a relief if you are willing to work at it. Self-hypnosis for nail biting consists of three parts.
Hypnotherapy For Nail Biting
To start with, nail biting is a stress related habit. So the first part of the therapy is to teach the nail biter how to be more relaxed at all times. To that end, I have found that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques are very often effective. That’s because the very essence of hypnosis is relaxation. The individual can learn to apply several different methods to increase both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of well-being.
The second part of the therapy teaches the biter to become aware of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions can be given to the unconscious to make the consciousness aware that you are bringing your hand towards your mouth for the purpose of biting your nails. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.
There are several other effective methods. As an example, we can help the client to set up an “Anchor” or trigger so that he/she can momentarily mentally step outside of him/herself. This is a powerful method that will effectively relieve the compulsion to bite.
The third part of the hypnotic therapy is to eliminate the compulsion to bite. There are Neuro-Linguistic Programming methods that actually program the client with a compulsion to not bite.
With the nail biting compulsion, being realistic is very important. In the first place, you have probably practiced the unwanted habit hundreds or even thousands of times. You’ll need to accept that the behavior of biting your nails will not simply be overcome in a few weeks.
Secondly, you are fighting the fact that it feels good to do, and it offers short term satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take time to overcome, but I believe it is worth it. My experience has shown a number of methods to be quite effective!
==========
Alan B. Densky, CH opened his hypnosis practice way back in 1978. Alan has worked with thousands of clients to overcome these types of negative behaviors. He can be contacted through his website at www.Neuro-VISION.US where he offers Self-Hypnosis CD’s and books. Visit his FREE hypnosis article fibrary, or subscribe to one or more of his FREE hypnosis newsletters.
Alan B. Densky, CH opened his hypnosis practice in 1978. He has helped thousands of clients to overcome these types of symptoms. He can be contacted through his site at www.Neuro-VISION.US where he offers Self-Hypnosis CD’s and books. Visit his FREE hypnosis article fibrary, or subscribe to one or more of his FREE hypnosis newsletters.
- Alan B. Densky, CH
