Habits usually start in childhood and are a type of self-soothing mechanism - in the same way a toddler has a dummy, sucks their thumb or carries a comfy blanket. This type of behaviour is a normal part of growing up and most people grow out of habits like these by the time they are seven or eight.
Other typical bad habits include, nail biting, teeth grinding, toenail picking, cheek chewing, lip biting and twiddling or pulling out your hair. These habits can start as a child, carry through to adulthood and tend to be linked to boredom, loneliness or anxiety. Even if you've been strong enough in the past to conquer a bad habit, it can return in times of stress.
Nail biting
Nail biters range from those who occasionally nibble to professional nail biters who spend hours chomping until all they're left with is a bloody and sore mess. Yet our fingernails and toenails are there to protect our hands and feet and need to be looked after. Constantly biting your nails or the skin around your fingers or toes is giving an open invitation to any bug or germ that's lurking about. If these bacteria enter your bloodstream, then there's a good chance you could end up with an infection.
If you're fed up with hiding your hands in public, wear false nails or buy a nasty tasting 'stop biting' solution from your local chemist. There is no quick fix solution for this type of habit so you will have to use willpower to stop.
Toenail picking
The same infection risks apply for those who spend time on the much-loved pursuit of toenail picking. Pulling, cutting, picking or prising off chunks of toenail will definitely make a fungal nail infection more likely. There's also a possibility you may end up having minor surgery if you land yourself with an ingrowing toenail.
If you have trouble leaving your feet alone, wear socks or slippers when you're indoors, to resist the urge to pick. If your habit is worse when you watch TV, do something else with your hands like, doodling or knitting.
Teeth grinding
This is a common habit that affects a lot of people, usually in their sleep. Teeth grinding can damage your teeth, make your jaw ache and can cause shoulder and neck pain, headaches and migraines.
Make sure you have regular dental check-ups to spot any repairs that need doing, like fillings or crowns. If you can't stop, you may have to wear a gum shield at night to prevent any more damage to your teeth or jaw.
Cheek and lip chewing
This is another type of habit that can be hard to break. If you chew your cheeks no-one can physically see what you're doing to yourself but the soreness and risk of infection is pretty clear. Biting your lips will make them sore, dry and cause the skin to peel off. You'll be more likely to get cold sores as well.
Resist the urge to remove the fresh, new layer of skin in your cheek when you wake up in the morning. Have a piece of sugar-free chewing gum ready to pop in your mouth and chew on that instead. If you are a lip biter, every time you feel the urge to bite your lip, apply some lip balm.
Hair pulling
A lot of people twiddle with their hair as it can be comforting. Sometimes, it can develop further into Trichotillomania, which is when you pluck out your hair strand by strand. The most common places to pull hair from are the head, eyebrows and eyelashes. Some people suck, chew or eat the hair or bite off the root and discard the rest. It's very common among women and is linked to obsessive compulsive disorder. If the habit gets out of control it can lead to baldness, which is very upsetting.
Try to keep your fingers occupied using stress balls and wear cotton mittens or a hat or headscarf so you don't get tempted to pull at your hair. There are thought to be as many as 2 million people with the same habit as you, so don't suffer in silence. Speak to your GP for a referral to a behaviour therapist.
