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Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are related. These behaviors are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders or OCD. People who bite their nails often keep their hands hidden in their pockets. People who bite their nails often feel social embarrassment and experience out-of-control feelings at times. At times they may wonder why they can't stop biting and they often question whether or not they are sane.

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 a trance and not thinking about what they are doing. Usually they are involved in some other activity at the same time such as reading or talking, etc. For others, the deliberate picking or biting is their main activity at the time, and they will frequently interrupt other activities to engage in it.

There is a strong commonality seen in the various purposes behind nail biting, skin picking and hair pulling. At the most basic level, they satisfy an urge. Many report an almost uncontrollable compulsion 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 their nervous systems 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 suffer from these habits 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 behaviors, don't give up. These behaviors can be overcome if you have enough 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 some or all of these things at times. Once you realize 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 currently isn't a "cure" but you can find a relief if you are willing to work at it. Hypnosis for nail biting consists of three parts.

Therapy For Nail Biting

First of all, nail biting is a nervous habit. So the first part of the hypnotherapy is to teach the sufferer 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 usually quite effective. That's because the very essence of hypnosis is relaxation. The nail biter can learn to apply several different methods to enhance both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of relaxation and well-being.

The second part of the therapy teaches the individual awareness of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions can be given to the subconscious mind to make the conscious mind aware that you are bringing your hand towards your mouth. Then you get to consciously decide whether or not you are actually going to bite them.

There are also several other powerful techniques. As an example, we can help the client to set up an "Anchor" or trigger so that he/she can momentarily disassociate. This is an effective method that will effectively relieve the compulsion to bite.

The third part of the hypnotic therapy is to eliminate the compulsion to bite the nails. There are Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques that actually program the client with a compulsion to not bite his/her nails.

With the biting habit, being realistic is very important. First off, you have rehearsed the unwanted habit hundreds or even thousands of times. You will need to accept that the nail biting behavior will not simply be overcome in a few days.

Second, you are fighting the fact that biting your nails feels good to do, and it offers a lot of short term satisfaction and either stimulation or soothing feelings. It can take time to overcome, but I believe that it is worth it. My experience has shown a number of techniques to be very effective!

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Alan B. Densky, CH opened his practice in 1978. Alan has helped thousands of clients to overcome these types of negative behaviors. 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.