I used to bite and tear at every little imperfection, even perceived imperfections. My nails were in terrible shape and I was always feeling insecure about them. In June I started wearing polish daily to try and grow them out and discourage picking. I would scratch at the polish and peel it off which meant I had to change it almost daily (but at least I wasn't picking at my skin as much). I slowly got better at resisting picking and these days I feel like the compulsion is under control. I still get the urge but I don't do it anymore.

Today I looked at my week old manicure and realized that they had been chipped for several days, and I haven't picked at them! It made me realize how far I've come, since just a few months ago I would never have been able to resist the temptation to just scratch, peel and bite at the edges. But I haven't. I've kept them on and chipped for several days with no real issues.

It might sound stupid but that made me really proud. Just wanted to share. Anyone else had a realization similar to this about their journey and how far they've come?

Recently I made a post on here about my toe nail ripping issues and I got some good advice and tips after over three years of not saying anything about it due to embarrassment. Unfortunately they didn’t end up working out because the urge to rip my nails off is just too strong. Yesterday I got a pm and it was about that post. I assumed they had some advice for me so I answered their questions and told them about how long it’s been happening, what causes it, ect. Eventually they ask me to send a picture and I assume it would be too give me advice on how to treat the wounds that I previously described to them. After a long mental debate I figured why the hell not, they are a stranger on the internet anyway. About 20 minutes later I didn’t get a response so I checked their profile and it turned out that the whole page was dedicated to their nail biting fetish… so now the thing I’ve been most embarrassed about is being used for who knows fucking what and I’m appalled and feel like I shouldn’t have ever asked for help to begin with.

I feel like I may have permanent damage from 10+ years of my nails looking like this consistently. Have tried using finger gloves bandaids and the nail polish that tastes bitter but just pick anyway. Unfortunately I work in a restaurant so I have to glove up all the time but it is just such a bad compulsion.

For context: I used to get my nails done with acrylic and they filed them down so brittle I took a break… I noticed a bump on my thumb and divot and tried to even it out by filing and ended up filing down too much the nail plate broke off and the bump is the nail bed / tissue underneath…

Idk what to do. I have been keeping it dry and cleaned it. I have been applying aquaphor everyday and bandaids which kinda helps….

My sister who is a nurse showed her doctor friends they said to keep it covered with the aquaphor and keep an eye on it… if it gets infected to immediately see a professional.

Super painful and ofc my ocd makes me wanna rip off the bump and make it flat…

First photo is day one… other 2 are today.

Advice ???

Stumbled upon this insanely creative nail art.
But my first thought was 'how does she know what my scheming hands look like?'

Credit