`Have you ever been under stress or felt nervous? Do you bite your nails or scratch your hair a lot? To some it may seem gross, and you might feel like you're the only one doing it, but you're wrong.
In this article, I am going to cover 3 of the most common habits or "ticks".
Intro:
These habits actually have scientific names and have been studied by various doctors.
Nail biting, the #1 compulsive habit is called Onychophagia. This along with trichotolomania (hair pulling) and scab picking) are compulsive habits which affect most people at least once in their lives. These habits are not believed to be hereditary, but developed over the course of time.
Some parts of the body are very sensitive to pain and other nervous impulses. The provoking of these areas (like the parts underneath the fingernail) can lead to addictive habits
-Nail biting (affects 30% of children, 45% of teenagers!): I know at least a dozen people with this habit. Asking them why they do it, they say that they "can't help it" and they do it "subconsciously". When the nail is removed, bacteria can sometimes infect the hand and cause problems. Ways to prevent this is a special type of polish. On contact with the mouth, it releases a bitter flavour to the tongue. This is an effective and cheap way to reverse the habit and has shown results.
- Hair pulling: Trichotolomania can lead to bald spots which can make an individual self-conscious about his/her appearance. The individual has the urge to pull out the root of the hair from the scalp and may put the hair in his mouth. This can be deadly because the hair will collect into the stomach and can cause death in severe cases. There are not many conventional treatments to trichotolomania, aside from anti-depressants which can have serious side-effects.
- Scab picking: Scab picking can be one of the more serious of the addictive habits. Continuous activity can leave wounds open and cause serious sicknesses. There have been some reports of scab picking in the scalp, and this habit is similar to trichotolomania. Scars can be formed after consistent picking which can turn out ugly and unpleasant.
I would not recommend someone to take anti-depressant drugs or hypnosis. The best weapon against these habits is strong will-power. Also, it is important that family members understand why you are doing these habits. They will feel better when they know that it is manageable with their love and support.
