Nail Biting Addiction: Focus on Emotional Issues

Many people develop the habit of biting their nails as children, often breaking it with parental guidance. However, when this behavior develops into compulsive, even unrelenting, biting to the point of bleeding, it can lead to onychophagia. Psychiatrists point out that onychophagia isn't just a manifestation of anxiety; it's a behavioral addiction, similar to smoking, that often requires long-term medical intervention and psychotherapy to improve.

Psychiatrist Zhang Hanqi said that in the United States, about 20% of teenagers aged 10 to 18 have the habit of biting their nails. Traditional thinking believes that this is related to the stage of oral development oremotional anxietySome perfectionists may also have this behavior. When they are not satisfied with the completion of things, they are likely to haveirritability, coupled with having nothing to do with your hands, you may start biting your nails.

So, how do we define onychophagia? Zhang Hanqi explained that if a person can consciously control and stop biting their nails, it is not onychophagia; on the contrary, if they continue to bite their nails unconsciously, it falls into the category of onychophagia. Studies have shown that onychophagia is more common in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18, of which about 60% to 70% also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Nail biting is more common in these patients because they have poor concentration and are easily agitated, but not all ADHD patients will exhibit this behavior.

To treat nail biting, you should seek professional help from a dermatologist or pediatrician. Zhang Hanqi shared a case: a 13-year-old girl suffered from trichotillomania and kept pulling out her hair and eyebrows. Her parents initially thought it wasacademic pressureAs a result, it was later discovered that my daughter's behavior was unconscious. After evaluation by a psychologist and ongoing treatment, her condition improved. This case illustrates that trichotillomania and onychophagia are similar manifestations of "behavioral addiction."

There are several treatment options available for onychophagia. For example, having the sufferer wear gloves or paint their nails red can help remind them to stop biting when they see the unusual color. Alternatively, wearing a rubber band or keychain can help distract the sufferer from the urge to bite their nails, thereby suppressing the urge.

Onychophagia may seem like a minor problem, but if it develops into a compulsive behavior pattern, it may become a behavioral disorder requiring professional intervention. Parents and patients alike should not ignore this issue; seeking professional help when appropriate is crucial for effective improvement.