stop biting my nails

Doing very well at the moment. I’m beginning to think it works better when I’m not obsessively counting days. . . . In fact, I’m not thinking about my nails much at all.

I’m going to keep my nails painted – hopefully it will deter me.

I’ve beaten this habit once so I know I’m capable of doing it again.

Day 1.

I was sitting at school today listening to a speaker and glancing around the room when I noticed two guys in the row in front of me chewing away on their nails. They’d chew a little, inspect them, feel for rough edges and then resume chewing. In public.

It was an eye-opening experience. Not only did it become clear to me once again just how disgusting the habit is, but I had the wonderful realization that that’s no longer me in that picture. After biting my nails for most of my life, failing in countless attempts to stop, I’m no longer enslaved by this habit. It’s not that I’m perfect – I still catch myself occasionally nibbling, but I’m not being destructive any longer.

I feel free and finally confident to take on some of the other bad habits that I need to address.

:-)

And I feel like I’ve finally beaten this habit. My nails are sporting a light shade of pink – this is the first time I’ve felt confident enough to paint them a color and go out in public.

If all goes well the next two weeks, I’m going to mark this goal as complete on October 1. :-)

I don’t think I’ve ever made it this long without any major nailbiting catastrophes. I still have 10 intact nails and they’re growing longer by the day. :-)

I’m not entirely sure why it’s been so much easier this time than all the times before that I tried to quit, but it’s helped that I’ve been far too busy with school and work to obsess about my nails. They’re there, but I’m not constantly stressing about them, and I don’t have the urge to bite like I used to have.

But I guess I don’t really need to question why it’s working right now – I just need to sit back and enjoy the results. :-D

Two weeks and I still have nails! Another week or two and I might be able to paint them with something other than clear polish. This will be a big step for me because I don’t remember ever being able to paint my fingernails. Actually to be happy to draw attention to my hands – amazing feeling.

:-)

No biting, and it’s been about 9 days. I’m hoping I can get so addicted to my fingers not hurting and to not feeling like I have to hide my hands that I’ll never bite again.

Determined to make this work!

It’s been about a week since I last bit my nails. Sometimes being ridiculously busy is definitely a blessing.

I’m greatly encouraged. =)

Nibbling limited to the pinky on my left hand.

Still determined. . . .