How To Quit That Nervous Habit
The first step: Recognize you have a problem. (Photo: Getty Images)
Whether it’s hair-twirling, nail-chewing, or knuckle-cracking, most everyone is guilty of some sort of “harmless” nervous habit. And more often than not, the source of the habit is stress (though some other common reasons include boredom and the feeling of relaxation brought on by the habit). Unfortunately, these sorts of habits can also drive those around us crazy — not to mention, their consequences can also be unsightly and even unhealthy. Now’s the time to stop.
WHY YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CHANGE
Aside from the whole vanity factor (have you ever met a nail chewer with pretty nails? Didn’t think so!), some nervous habits can also carry health risks. Picking or chewing at your nails, for instance, can raise the risk of developing an infection of the skin surrounding the nail (a condition called paronychia). And chewing on your nails can also increase your risk of catching a cold, since you’re sticking your mitts — and who knows where those have been! — in your mouth.
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While other some other nervous habits don’t carry as serious of consequences, they can still be severely annoying to those around you (especially if you’re a chronic knuckle-cracker or gum-popper and you’re in close proximity to someone with misophonia, the condition where certain sounds can send a person into a fit of rage).
HOW TO DO IT
The first step, regardless of the kind of nervous habit you have, is to want to stop, LiveScience reports. It also helps to keep a log of your bad habits — including when and why you engaged in them, Janet L. Wolfe, PhD, a New York City-based psychologist, told WebMD.
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From there, you can stop altogether or implement tricks to help you curb the habit.
For hands-focused nervous habits, like nail-biting, it helps to be aware of when you’re doing it, Women’s Health reports. You can also get manicures to incentivize not ruining your nails. LiveScience also recommends keeping your hands busy in some way —like keeping your hands in your pockets, or squeezing a stress ball — to help you avoid urges.
Ultimately, if your nervous habits are due to stress, Women’s Health notes, it’s important to get to the root of the problem and find a healthy way to manage your stress.
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