Lymphedema and nailbiting

Making a new habit is a a difficult thing.  In fact some experts say that it takes at least 45 days to make a new habit.  What have you tried?

Substituting a new habit for the old is frequently the "easiest" (of the not easy) approaches.  To decide what substitution you will make, you need to observe yourself a bit.  When do you bite your nails? In your sleep?  While waiting in line?  When you're nervous? While watching TV?  When you're on the phone? on-line? You need to make up your own list.  If you're not sure, try to write down the time/circumstances each time for the next day or so.

When you know when you bite them (and perhaps some of your triggers), you'll be able to come up w/ one or more strategies to pursue. 

I've seen strategies employed that involve one or more of the following tools: (1) Bad tasting stuff, (2) Manicures (3) Knitting or other needlework, (4) gloves/mittens, (5) worry stones, (6) prayer beads, (7) Ohm finger position, (8) a bracelet that can be "fingered," (9) a toothpick to chew on, (10) exercise, (11) tapping on your wrist, and (12) affirmations.

What tools you'll include in your strategy will depend on your list of triggers/times and what you think will work for you.  Identify a tool (not necessarily the ones in my list) that you can substitute in that circumstance.  As you go along, you may discover new times/triggers.  Don't let it throw you.  Just add the new time/circumstance to your list and decide on a substitute.  

At the end of the day, take a look at your list, and think about what happened that day.  Certainly you'll want to celebrate successful substitutions (I call that giving yourself a mental "atta-girl."), but when you discover that a substitution didn't work, decide for yourself whether you need a different substitution, or whether there was something that prevented you from employing your substitution:

• you didn't have what you needed with you.
• you didn't notice until it was "too late."
• you didn't want to employ that substitute in that circumstance.

whatever it was.  You'll notice that some of the tools in my list are things to make you notice that you're nail biting (bad tasting stuff/gloves), some are to prevent your from nail biting (like mittens/some gloves) and others are to use as or with a substitute habit.  

Make a calm plan for what to do differently the next time, edit or add to your list, and start new the next day.  This is not an easy thing, but if you keep at it, you will get there.  Remember, this isn't something that you'll have accomplished in a week or two.  At least 45 days to make a new habit.  And each of your substitutions is a new habit.

If you want suggestions for particular times/places, share them with us.  We can help come up w/ possible substitute habits.

Good luck!

LisaAlissa 

eta: closing paren 

I was a serious nail biter as a child & saw no reason to stop. Working around germs has helped me stop. OK, I haven't completely stopped. Sometimes I'll get a break in one of my nails while washing my hair in the shower & I'll trim it with my teeth. I swear I can do a better job with my teeth than with cutters/scissors/file. One of the things I've done over the years & still do is take my thumb nail & run it under my other nails(just to the quick). It provides stimulation similar to biting. My fingernails often extend past the end of my fingers.

Another thing that slowed me down was braces(the old metal kind) back in high school. But once the braces came off.........I had no reason to quit.

Since I've had nodes removed bilaterally I'm also trying to take better care of my hands. I'm working to stop tearing off & sometimes biting hangnails. Also trying ways of preventing.

I never understood why I was a nailbiter in the first place. Not nervous, boredom........Good luck!