Nail biting and hypnotherapy

Written By Natasha Stone

Some of the symptoms of nail biting are : 

Feelings of emotional discomfort and stress before biting

  • Feeling relieved during and after biting

  • Embarrassment relating to the damage to skin and nails.

  • Bleeding, abscesses, and infections and wearing of the teeth.

Findings discussed with regard to the effectiveness of hypnosis and behavioural therapies such as CBT showed immediate and dramatic increase in fingernail lengths.   At 3-month follow-up, one subject showed a moderate reversal effect while the remaining two subjects continued to demonstrate great progress. 

Bornstein P.H., Rychtarik R.G., McFall M.E., Winegardner J., Winnett R.L., Paris D.A. Hypnobehavioral treatment of chronic nail biting: A multiple baseline analysis. Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1980;28(3):208–217.

Natasha Stone https://www.shinetherapies.com.au
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