A German expert explains why it is sometimes sufficient to sit on your hands
Nail biting in children often worries parents, but in itself is not a reason for panic. German neuropsychologist Steffen Moritz explains that it is a typical reaction to stress, nervousness or boredom, which is not unique to humans.
"Whoever has nails, bites them," says Moritz for the weekly SPIEGEL and recalls that similar behavior can be seen even in chimpanzees. Nail biting belongs to the group of so-called body-directed repetitive behavioral disorders, which include hair pulling or biting the inside of the cheek. However, he warns that every nail biting should not be immediately declared a disorder. "Sometimes it's just some kind of stupid habit. It should always be looked at individually and not minimized or pathologized."
The problem arises when snacking leads to physical consequences. If the nails bleed, the risk of infections increases, and their growth may be impaired. However, Moritz believes that children should not be scared of such consequences. "They might stop biting their nails out of fear, but they could develop an anxiety disorder," he warns.
Instead, he advises that parents calmly and unobtrusively remove their child's hand when they notice such behavior.
When parents are trying to assess whether it is a more serious problem, it is important to pay attention to the circumstances in which the biting occurs. Moritz recommends monitoring whether certain people, situations, or school responsibilities trigger such a reaction.
Nail biting can also be linked to ADHD, but an expert warns against jumping to conclusions. "Anything related to stress, restlessness and nervousness can manifest in this way," he says. However, he adds that it is not correct to conclude: "A child bites his nails, so he could develop ADHD." Instead, the symptom should be viewed separately and monitored for other similar behaviors.
It is interesting that Moritz believes that families should first try to solve the problem themselves. According to him, professional help is difficult to find, because nail biting and related disorders are given very little attention even during medical and psychology studies. Because of this, patients often hear from professionals the same comments they have already heard from their parents or grandparents: "Stop it. It doesn't look good. You'll never find a partner that way."
The good news, says Moritz, is that nail biting can often be successfully controlled without therapy. One of the methods is the so-called habit change training. When a person feels the urge to bite his nails, he should briefly take a position that prevents this action - for example, to fold his hands as if for prayer or sit on them. "So one practically freezes the urge until it passes," explains Moritz. According to him, sometimes twenty seconds are enough for the desire to snack to weaken.
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