Is it normal to bite my fingers until they bleed?

24% Normal
7 Comments

I pick at and bite the skin around my fingers constantly. I don't know why.. when I was little I would scratch the tips of them all the time and I still do that when I'm very nervous. I can't remember when I started actually biting and peeling the skin off I just know it's gotten worse within the past couple years. I don't leave the house without band-aids with me in case my fingers bleed and sting too bad. I'm scared I'll end up mutating my fingers or one of them gets infected or something.. also it's really hard to wash my hands or my hair because the cuts burn really bad. I don't know what to do. any suggestions?? and is it normal?

Voting Results
24% Normal
Based on 83 votes (20 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • DumBelle
    10 years ago

    Biting cuticles (as opposed to biting your nails) is a subconscious 'self-punishment'. Biting your nails is related to anxiety. Biting your cuticles/skin picking etc is a form of self-punishing. Associated with guilt and OR shame. Try thinking hard about life events (past, present, anything currently bothering you personally) All ticks associated with a sense of pain (biting cuticles, biting tongue/other obvious and more extreme forms) are directly the result of something deeply internal, going on.

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  • Negima93
    10 years ago

    Try and find another habit that's not as painful (gum chewing)

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    • emerillog
      10 years ago

      thank you though I will try to find a safer habit haha

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    • emerillog
      10 years ago

      I feel like that wouldn't help much because whenever I look at my fingers and see even the smallest piece of skin sticking out a little bit I'll have the urge to bite it completely off and I end up destroying my fingers in the process.. it's like I do it worse and worse as I get more used to the pain

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  • NormalIsOverratedBeANinja
    10 years ago

    I always do that, especially when I'm reading a book. I've been trying to stop since my fingertips are callused over and I can't feel textures much anymore. Harry Potter seems to make me do it more than anything else, I don't know why…

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  • emerillog
    10 years ago

    that doesn't really help me much haha

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  • handsignals
    10 years ago

    The pain is like adrenaline it's such a sudden rush for me.

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