Hi! Does anyone else deal with compulsive nail/skin around nail picking? I’ve done it since I was a kid but now that I’m older people make comments on it. Any tips/tricks? Thanks!!

I’m sorry :( I would hide mine as a child as well. I would chew mine until they bled, much worse when going through anxiety. They make a polish called Mavala stop that tastes bad. It never worked for me I just bit right through it haha. The nail salons I’ve been to are very nice when I explain I have an anxiety disorder that makes my nails look like crap :)

Aw I’m sorry, I could see how that could make it worse for you. I was terribly embarrassed the first time I went. Even with my nails done, I still pick at them and my husband always gets on to me haha. Not much quick fixes in the ocd/ anxiety world ? but I would keep pushing forward with anxiety reducing methods. You might not always be able to stop completely? Because I still pick at mine but they don’t bleed and look terrible like they used to. If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety, open a meditation app, drink a glass of water, write a note describing your thoughts. Little things like that help me ?

I deal with compulsive lip and cheek biting which I believe is similar. It’s terrible and I’ve been trying to find ways to stop!

Oh my gosh I’ve done it for as long as I can remember. I never thought of it as ocd for me, but it probably is lol. The only thing that helps me is getting my nails done regularly. Not always a cheap option tho. :)

My fingers are horrendous. I have to hide them when I'm swimming because it's so embarrassing... It looks like they've been used as chew toys for a teething puppy. I have also been biting and picking since I was little... I'm 23 now and still struggling. Good luck!! :)

See my mother used to make me get my nails done and it created so much anxiety because of the horrendous comments that would be made that I haven’t gone in almost a decade (I’m 21). I’ve tried tape and bandaids but it just draws more attention to it. It definitely comes and goes with anxiety levels but I just wish there was a quick fix

Yes luckily the place I go to get my nails done has nice ladies who sincerely want to help make my nails and cuticles look nice. I found that after I go, I'll see how nice they can look & I try to keep them that way. I also found that using Burt's bees cuticle cream, or putting aquaphor on my nails and cuticles helps a lot. I'll use one of those then put on some cotton gloves that I got at CVS or Harmon's or wherever. I normally wear them to bed and when I wake up they're a lot less painful and dry looking. I'll also wear them when I'm working on my computer or watching TV or a movie because when I'm doing those things I'll pick without even realising it. But with the gloves I have no shot. I hope that helps :)