Nail Biting Disorders
Although nail-biting is often cited as a "bad habit" or a "nervous tic," it can be a far more serious condition with strong psychological undertones. Whether it's a mindless stress reliever or a severe compulsion that leaves fingers infected and bloody, most nail-biting stems from some sort of root disorder. Find out the main causes below.
Onychophagia
The technical term for nail-biting, onychophagia, encompasses all forms of the habit, but is typically used to describe more serious conditions. In onychophagia, the nail itself is bitten, as well as the cuticle and the soft skin around the nail. It is often initiated or exacerbated by a ragged piece of nail or skin that catches the attention of the biter.
BFRB
Nail-biting can be a type of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that falls under the subcategory of Body-focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB). These disorders include skin-picking and hair-pulling (trichotillomania), and are characterized by their compulsiveness and their sense of satisfying a basic need (that is, the nail-biters feel that the biting, even when painful, somehow feels good). BFRBs are thought to be a result of brain chemicals, and may also have a genetic component.
Automatic vs. Deliberate
Nail-biting is usually done in two different modes. Automatic nail-biters tend to bite during other activities, like watching TV or typing at the computer, and don't seem to be aware of the fact that they're biting their nails. Deliberate nail-biters will abandon what they're doing in order to fully engage in the act of biting; they consider it their primary activity at the time.
Psychological Urges
The physical act of compulsive nail-biting is often a response to a psychological urge. For biters who are stressed or upset, the repetitive, rhythmic feeling of nail-biting helps them to relax. If the nail-biter is bored, biting provides stimulation. Nail-biting is also a form of perfectionism, in some cases; the biter is unable to stand the sight of a ridge, snag or flaw, and bites it in an attempt to create the perfect nail. Ironically, repeated biting results in short, damaged nails that become bloody and infected.
Pica
Pica is a condition where nonfood substances--fingernails, mud, paint chips, etc.--are repeatedly eaten. It may be a sign of a nutritional deficiency: Iron, zinc, calcium, niacin, thiamine and vitamins C and D have been linked to pica. Although empirical research on pica is rare, it is also thought to be caused by biochemical disorders, like the decreasing production of dopamine in the brain.
Treatments
Compulsive nail-biting can be treated with the same medications used to treat depression or schizophrenia (which is not to say that all nail-biters are depressed and psychotic). Of course, such medications can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. Inositol, a B vitamin, can also be taken for nail-biting; it helps with the production of serotonin in the brain, which in turn reduces the urges to compulsive disorders. Behavioral therapy is also available for serious nail-biting.
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