I've tried the bitter nail-polish and chili peppers. They taste sweet to me now. I've tried plain resolutions. I tried putting bandages on every day. I tried to worry about public humiliation but I'm too self-centered to care about that either.
I'm thinking of trying what's called aversion therapy where I would associate biting my nails with something I really hate. For example, someone who wants to stop drinking coke will try to clearly picture cockroaches coming out of the can instead of soda, thus avoiding the drink altogether.
"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"
There has to be a change at the unconscious level. It is tricky to train your brain, and you'll have to really force yourself in order for it to work. Aversion therapy will only work if you can truly place a terrible image in your mind every time you go for a bite. You could also simply imagine immense pain every time, but again your brain must associate nail biting with something that you absolutely must avoid. Over time the conscious thought of something terrible will be placed in your unconscious, but it could take quite a while. If you want to stop biting, you'll stop.
It's pretty tough to do that though. I've tried, but its become like an addiction. I can stop for a say or two, but by day three, I'm breaking down. It's become an obsession that's extended to subconscious. Last year, I was obsessed with chipping off the paint in my old room and couldn't stop until I couldn't chip away anymore (luckily, I moved.)
"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"
It's not that easy. I've been able to give up other bad habits, one being the compulsive need to organize, through "rearrrangment" of priorities (It doesn't matter whether my notes from are put into labeled folders as long as they're there). I knew where that habit came from (my mother.) But I don't understand my obsession with nail-biting or chipping paint of walls. I think it may have some connection to my perfectionism because the symptoms are similar.
"How can we be just in a world without mercy and merciful in a world without justice?"
In the great words of Dr. Phil: We don't get rid of our habits, we simply change them.
My guess is all of your compulsive behavior has been redirected to your nail biting habit.This would explain why stopping has been so difficult. Maybe you should try to switch your nail biting into another more constructive activity. Every time you want to bite, pick up a book and read instead. Changing a habit is hard work no doubt, but it can be done.
Maybe you could try rewarding yourself with something you really enjoy or like...at first in small intervals...say after one morning of not biting you get to have reward (i. e small chocolate at lunch)..but if you do bite then something is taken away that you like......(i.e no chocolate at lunch). If you want to try it, it is important to find a reward you will feel motivated to achieve and one you'll miss if you bite. If this works make the intervals longer and longer and if need be change the rewards and punishments if you find you're lacking motivation after a while. Also maybe get a close friend or family member involved to cheer you on.
One way to stop, is to keep ur fingures freshly dunked in Viniger and Salt! Put two cups out 1 w/vinig.., the other salt, everytime u pass the cups dunk your Finguretips in! WARNING!! If u bit ur fingure nails down to nitty gritty, be prepaired to get burned!!
One way to stop, is to keep ur fingures freshly dunked in Viniger and Salt! 