Nail Biting

Nail Biting

Persuasive Essay
Nail biting is something that everyone does at least from time to time.   It may be just removing rough cuticles or a loose hangnail, but for some people this problem is much more serious.   Some nail biters take it to extreme levels, they will continually pick and bite at their nails until their cuticles bleed.   The will also bite past the nail bed and will have red, sore, and even infected fingers.   Compulsive nail biters continue their behavior despite the side affects either because it is self-soothing, stimulates urges, or fulfills their desire for perfectionism.
When a compulsive nail biter becomes stressed they look to self-sooth and almost have an uncontrollable urge to bite their nails.   Pulling, picking, or biting their nails seems to deliver a pleasurable or relaxed sensation.   It has a calming effect on their nervous system that helps to reduce their levels of stress.
Often in times of boredom or inactivity nail biters will look to increase levels of stimulation, nail biting seems to have this effect. It may help to keep the person for alert and active in their situation when if they hadn’t started to bite their nails they would have become bored or distracted. Or it will stimulate them in the sense that it simply feels good to bite their nails.
Nail biters may see the smallest imperfections on their nails and want to try to fix them in order to achieve an improvement in their nails.   They will pick at rough cuticles or bite off rough edges of nails to try and make them smooth.   When in contrast the picking and biting always makes their nails appear much worse in spite of their attempts.  
Many people do not recognize the real impact nail biting has on their lives, or that is a real disorder so they will not seek treatment for the problem.   When in fact there are several methods of helping people stop their behavior.   Medication can be taken for those whose nail baiting is so serious that they are placed among OCD,...