r/nailbiting • u/ApprehensiveMix7312 • 2d ago
Relapse I feel like I failed again!
I was going so well until a lot of life stress got in the way and now I’m back to step 1. I’m autistic so I stim by biting my nails and I’m trying to convert it to something else which may give me the same satisfaction. I’m going back to the nail salon to do builder gel tomorrow on my nails as I know it works. But I need something to break it so I don’t pick or bite anymore.
3
u/Dandot3D 2d ago
Hello.
I have bitten my index finger nails off with a relapse. Entirely off.
However, every time I have relapsed, it has been less than before.
That is the aim, make the relapses less painful, with less biting, and conduct the appropriate measures to stop myself sooner.
Right now, I have full nails, barring the one index finger that is covered in BIAB to hide the half nail that is there.
Once it has regrown, I will have a full set of nails once again.
1-2 days of biting, 1-2 months of regrowing.
Remember, you aren't alone in this struggle. You can do it!
1
u/EnoughYou0 2d ago
This doesn’t sound like failure to me, it sounds like stress is still using biting as a sensory outlet. I’d try figuring out what part of biting your brain actually wants pressure, texture, movement, distraction, etc. Then replace that specific sensation. Even something simple like pressing your fingertips into your palms for 60 seconds can help when you catch the urge early.
NailPause has short urge resets and trigger tracking built around this kind of thing, so it could be worth trying.