Known as onicophagy, this behavior goes beyond a simple custom: it usually has deep emotional roots, linked to anxiety, often originated from childhood, according to various studies in the field of mental health.
The clinical psychologist Ximena Fuentes points out that, from the psychological approach, this habit can be interpreted as a coping mechanism or a repetitive behavior focused on the body, considered within the study of human behavior as a disorder of nervous origin.
The Sanitas Specialized Health Portal emphasizes that ONICOPHY is a frequent disorder that is usually started between three and six years as a response to stress, anxiety, insecurity, tiredness or even boredom.
This act can become a habit when the brain associates it with a feeling of relief, which generates an emotional dependence to bite your nails to feel better, says the same source.
“The objective of these behaviors is to seek a temporary relief of tension or anxiety. Bullfighting can produce a momentary sensation of calm, helping to release accumulated emotional tension. That is, the physical act seeks to distract psychological discomfort,” Fuentes explained.
When the habit becomes severe, it can be considered a symptom of a impulse control disorder.
“We can also observe a conditioning pattern. That is, this type of behavior begins in childhood and is reinforced over time when perceived as effective in relieving tension. If biting your nails momentarily reduces discomfort, the brain can interpret it as an adequate form of coping, even if it is not,” he emphasized.
According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5), this behavior can be classified within the “other obsessive-compulsive and related related disorders”, specifically as a repetitive behavior focused on the body (CRCC).
This classification is justified because, in general, this type of compulsive acts is related to poor emotional management in the absence of effective strategies to regulate emotions, the specialist details.
“People who have not developed effective mechanisms to manage their emotions resort to automatic behaviors like this to feel calm or in control, especially if they go through moments of tension,” he added.
When this habit arises as an automatic response to stress, it can be part of a broader disorder, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder, where repetitive behaviors are used as a way to handle intrusive thoughts or constant nervousness.
According to the medical News portal, disorders such as hyperactivity attention deficit disorder (ADHD), challenging negativist disorder and separation anxiety disorder are commonly associated with onicophagy.
Other comorbid conditions have also been documented, such as major depressive disorder, ICT disorders, various forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, enuresis (involuntary urination), mental retardation, generalized developmental disorders, as well as generalized panic and anxiety disorder, according to the same medium.
How can you approach the nail bite?
Sources recommends, as a first step, to carry out a professional evaluation to determine not only if there is the disorder, but also the effects that compulsive behavior has had in the emotional and functional context of the person.
Once the diagnosis has been done, the mental health professional can suggest treatment through cognitive-behavioral therapy (TCC), focused on identifying behavior triggers and developing healthier responses.
In addition, it is advisable to carry a constant therapy that allows learning tools for emotional management, with the aim of avoiding resorting to compulsive behaviors and building more functional alternatives to face stress.
Onicophagy is a frequent disorder that is usually started between three and six years as a response to stress. (Free Press Photo: Shuttersock)