Use Hypnosis To Break The Nail Biting Habit

                                                                                         

Nail biting is related to skin picking and hair pulling. Skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting are labeled as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. Nail biters often keep their hands in their pockets. Nail biters often feel social embarrassment and shame and experience out-of-control feelings at times. Sometimes they wonder why they can't stop biting their nails and they often question whether or not they are crazy.

Nail biting often happens when people are in one of two modes. Some do it in an automatic way, as if they are in some kind of altered state and not thinking about what they are doing. Usually 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 usually interrupt their other activities to engage in it.

There is a strong commonality in the purposes behind these three problems (skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting). At a very basic level, they satisfy an urge. Many people report an 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 may account for why so many people who have these habits find it so hard to give up these behaviors. It simply "feels good" at the time no matter what the consequences.

Even if you suffer from more than one of these habits, don't give up on yourself. These compulsive 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 you are at times. Once you realize that you are just a person who simply happens to have a bad habit, 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 relief if you are willing to work at it. Therapy for nail biting consists of three parts.

Hypnosis & NLP For Nail Biting

To start with, nail biting is a stress related 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 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 increase both the relaxed state, as well as his/her overall feeling of relaxation and well-being.

The second part of the therapy teaches the nail biter to become aware of this unconscious habit. Suggestions can be given to the unconscious 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 much more effective hypnosis and NLP methods. For 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 nail bite. There are NLP methods that actually program the client with a compulsion to not bite his/her nails.

With the biting behavior, being realistic is very important. In the first place, you have probably practiced the unwanted habit thousands of times. It is important to accept that the compulsion 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 master, but I believe it is well worth the effort. Experience has shown a number of methods to be quite effective!

About the author:
Alan B. Densky, CH is a certified hypnotherapist specializing in stress related symptoms. He offers Hypnosis CDs which eradicate the nail biting compulsion. Reach him at the Neuro-VISION Self Hypnosis self help site. Visit his FREE hypnosis article library, or download his MP3s. http://www.neuro-vision.us/Hypnosis-Article-Index.html

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