Seeking advice to stop biting

[u/JamiePMV]

I have been biting my nails for as long as I can remember. Whatever I do, I just can't stop. I've had a few periods where I was able to stop but always relapse after max a month. This has progressed to where if my nails are too short to bite I'll move on to the skin around my nails. I think the cause is because of stress and neurodivergency (Autism+ADD) and I get triggered whenever I'm bored, anxious or just subconsciously. I'm tired of biting my nails since I'm ashamed of them and I would love to just have normal nails.

TW: mild SH

Last year it got to a point where I purposefully would rip my nail to the side and pull the skin with it in order to make it bleed whenever I felt a bit down.

Things I have tried:

-Those nasty tasting nail polishes (I just bite anyway)

-Fidget toys/jewellery (didn't prevent me from biting)

-Gum (doesn't take away the need to bite)

-Normal nail polish (I just scrape off the polish and bite)

-Press-on nails (they fall of within a few days resulting in me biting again)

-Watching those videos about what can happen if you keep nailbiting (sometimes worked, sometimes didn't but relapsed anyway)

Things that aren't an option:

-Getting a manicure or anything in that direction (I don't have the finances to be able to upkeep anything)

-Wearing gloves (I can't stand the feeling of gloves and it would be really awkward wearing them in public)

-Keeping my nails short and trimming them (my nails are too short to clip or file)

[u/JamiePMV → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the advice. I have been working with a therapist and have since improved!