There are so many repetitive habits, many of which are formed during childhood, that are self-soothing even though they have negative consequences. When it comes to the hands, nail-biting and knuckle cracking are ones familiar to many.
One, that also occurs in 2 out of 7 people, is the biting of the skin around the nails, called “Dermatophagia”. According to research, “Dermatophagia” is linked to both impulse control and obsessive-compulsive disorders. This makes sense in terms of the negative self-soothing aspect of this nervous habit. The question is what in actuality, makes this a negative coping mechanism for dealing with anxiety? Read the full story here ▶
