Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are related. These behaviors are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders or OCD. Nail biters often keep their hands hidden behind their backs. Nail biters often feel shame and experience out-of-control feelings at times. At times they may wonder why they are not able to stop biting their nails and they also question whether or not they are crazy.

Biting often happens when people are in one of two modes. Some biters do it in an automatic way, as if they are in a trance and not thinking about what they are doing. It is often when they are immersed in some other activity at the same time such as talking on the phone or watching TV, etc. For others, their main activity at the time is the actual picking or biting, and they will frequently interrupt their other activities to engage in it.

There is also a strong commonality seen in the various purposes behind hair pulling, skin picking and nail biting. At a very basic level, these symptoms 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 them 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 probably accounts for why so many people who have these habits find it so hard to give them up. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter what.

Even if you have more than one of these behaviors, do not give up. These symptoms can be overcome if you have a sufficient amount of 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 it at times. Once you get down to realizing that you are just a person who simply happens to have a problem, you can make some serious progress.

Skin picking and nail biting are chronic problems, so there is not currently a "cure" but you can find a relief if you are willing to work at it. Self-hypnosis for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnotherapy For Nail Biting

First off, nail biting is a stress related habit. So the first part of the hypnotherapy is to teach the individual how to be more relaxed at all times. To that end, I believe that traditional hypnosis, Ericksonian hypnosis, and NLP techniques can be very effective. That's because the very essence of hypnosis is relaxation. The biter can learn to apply several different methods to enhance both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of well-being.

The second part teaches the biter awareness of this unconscious habit. Post-hypnotic suggestions can be given to the unconscious to make the consciousness 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 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 mentally step outside of him/herself. This is an excellent method that will effectively relieve the urge to bite.

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

With the nail biting habit, being realistic is very important. First off, you have probably practiced the unwanted habit thousands of times. It is important to accept that the urge to bite your nails will not simply be overcome in a few days or weeks.

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

==========

Alan B. Densky, CH opened his practice way back 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.