Fingernails

For me it is anxiety driven. I can go weeks with out bothering, but put me in a situation where I'm uncomfortable, being able to silently pick my nails (behind my back, in a pocket, away from others, etc.) and it helps me stay in the situation, rather than running.

I also do it if I am totally bored.

My mother tried to break me of that habit, but it didn't work. Maybe pretty polish will help. I know my daughter started and I gave her a goal of 1 wk with no biting or picking and she could go to the nail salon w/me. She loved it. Now she picks off the polish, which I suspect is better than picking or biting her nails.

Stephanie

hi there
I did this as a child. I would say it's nerves (although as a kid I didn't realize this) but I grew up in a place of turmoil and with parents always fighting .. I think it was my release. Sadly, I have carried that habit into adulthood, however, I don't do as much damage and go thru periods of not messing with my fingers at all. When I get really nervous, I will start to go at it, but then I try and catch myself and stop doing it. I read recently in one of David Wolfe's books, that nail biting can be due to an alkaline mineral deficiency in the system, for which he recommends more herbs and leafy greens. It's worth looking into. I never realized that a habit as such could be due in part to some sort of nutritional deficiency and since reading that, I have been eating way more greens and drinking a green powder drink each day and when I do this, I truly find I don't feel as inclined to pick at my fingernails.. really...
AS for your daughter, could be she picked up the habit by watching someone else in your family do it? I think this kind of behavior is passed down from generation to generation. My dad bit his nails, and my mother, although she had nice ones for the most part, I could tell when she nervous, she'd always pick at this one thumb nail. My brother also bit his nails. I definitely think keeping nails nicely clipped help (I do mine) but also the skin around them needs to be kept nice and smooth .. if dry, could be a chance to pick at that.
I wish you the best and I would definitely look into the nutritional aspect of this.
best to you!!

I am glad you have gotten several responses. I was not clear from your post whether when she rips the nail off it is the little pieces of the nails she has gotten loose or more than that. If it is more than that I would mention it to your pediatrician. There are some very rare medical problems that can cause kids to pull out their nails.

MW

I'll be checking back to see more responses as I am curious. My 5 year old does the same thing. She is very, very active all the time and I don't know if that has anything to do with it. We have a fairly peaceful home with 5 children and she is not neglected for want of our time or things. No one in the family here does it, my brother did and he was hyper as a child, maybe there is a tie there?

But it is nice I guess to know there are other mom's with this issue too! Thanks for bringing it up. I'm anxious to see any more advice.

D.

Hello MW: We have one person inour family that constantly twists her hair to the point of damage, another relative that at 60 is still tearing, bitting, or clipping her nails, and toenails, and cuticals. We have learned that for both the councilor says it is stress related and for the hands and feet it is so they never look pretty. Once it is discovered that her nails are nice looking then she will break it, chew on it or as you say tear it. Toes nails are harder than fingernails so it is a challenge. She says its because she wants something to constantly chew on . So please try giving your child gum. Try by all means the bribe of nailpolish and treatments. They can be done at a beauty school very cheaply. As for stress it could be something going on with a friend, school, the change to summer break or other changes. I hope that you are able to find something that will help . Good Luck, Nana G