Biting your nails is one of the most common habits in the world. This problem, classified as obsessive-compulsive disorder, has a negative impact on health. And in the case of an 18-year-old, that obsession was about to cost her a finger.
In a report published in the French magazine Santeplusmag, writer Laurence O claims that, according to an article in Journal de Femme, a third of French people practice this habit. This is usually due to factors such as stress and anxiety. This behavior is particularly prevalent in children and adolescents. As the case of young American teenager Lauren Nichols reveals, this bad habit can take on potentially dangerous proportions. Read also Selfishness and altruism. History tells us about human behavior in times of epidemics Spoiled Child Syndrome. 9 educational mistakes that spoil behavior and weaken personality Mothers think this is one of the rules of positive parenting … everyday mistakes that develop your child’s negative behavior How play has become entertainment and treatment of behavioral disorders in children?
This young woman’s problem started with swelling on the tip of her middle finger. When I thought the infection was fleeting, it got worse over time.
On the verge of amputation
Young teenager Nichols began to feel increasing pain the moment a green spot appeared on her finger. Then a painful swelling started to form on the fingertip, the Mirror reports.
Upon examination, the doctor discovered that his obsession with biting his nails was the cause of this dangerous infection which he claimed would cost him the amputation of his fingertip. After the diagnosis, she was told she suffered from paronychia, an infection of the skin surrounding the nail.
Subsequently, she posted a warning on her TikTok account in which she wrote, “To my coworkers who have a habit of biting their nails, stop doing this. I almost had to amputate my fingertip because of this.
It should be noted that there is another serious case of a man who nearly died of sepsis after biting his nails.
Inflammation persists
While Nichols was receiving antibiotics at the doctor’s office, neither the inflammation nor the swelling in his finger had gone away. As a result, it was decided that she needed surgery and may need to have amputation. Lucky for her, she was able to survive thanks to a surgery called a “healing flush.”
For now, the teenager is determined to break her habit and took the opportunity to warn anyone who would because of the potential consequences.
Is that what you should do?
The author states that it is advisable to treat this habit from a psychological point of view. In fact, nail biting is closely linked with anxiety that needs to be controlled, noted Stefan Rosink, who specializes in behavioral and cognitive therapies. Because anxiety is often the root cause of OCD, managing it is the first step in treatment, which involves breathing and relaxation exercises. Dealing with anxiety also involves identifying its causes and the thoughts associated with it.
On the children’s side, reprimand and punishment are not a solution. According to Stephan Rusink, “It is best to put the child in a stimulating atmosphere by rewarding them when they stop doing this behavior and paying attention to it.”
As for the purely aesthetic point of view, the specialist does not recommend cosmetic treatments such as fingernails.
Finally, concerning the most worrying cases, Stefan Rusink mentions the need for comprehensive care.
He explains that this approach must take into account all sources of disturbance such as stress, intolerance to frustration, all of which are factors involved in the emergence of this problem and can be controlled.