3) Broadcasting Your Anxieties
Nail biters often put out a self-conscious vibe. “Most people bite their nails to seek comfort or relief from a negative emotional state, such as distress, shame, anxiety, or boredom,” says Mary Lamia, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, and professor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. “In a sense, nail-biting attacks the self, which tends to result in publicly exposing one’s feelings of shame and of disgust about the self.”
2) Angry Outbursts
Many people bite their nails as a way to deal with frustration, anger, and boredom but this habit can actually add to your frustration, making you want to chew more—creating a vicious cycle of repetitive behavior and anger, according to a study published in the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Biting your nails may provide short-term relief from frustrating or boring situations but over time will only make those feelings worse.
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