Do you bite your nails? For some people, nail biting is like a harmless addiction. But for others, it’s a horrible and unattractive habit! The habit of nail biting is usually described as a common way to react to the feeling of stress and tension. However, your nail chomping isn’t such a bad habit. New research suggests that it’s likely to arise from perfectionist beliefs and not just anxiety or stress.
Is Nail Biting A Bad Habit?
Onychophagia or nail biting is an oral compulsive habit. Sometimes described as a parafunctional activity- the common use of the mouth for an activity other than speaking, eating or drinking. The habit of nail-biting, hair plucking, or picking on the skin is a body-focused disorder also known as tic disorder or more distantly OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), which may help with better management skills and technique. Nail biters are prone to dissatisfaction and frustration, which often arises out of boredom. According to a new study by Scientific American, organizational perfectionism is characterized by a tendency evidence to often over-plan, overwork, and become frustrated by a lack of activity. Therefore, such people are more prone to impatience, frustration, and dissatisfaction when they do not reach their goals.
Here are some more signs that describe the nail-biting perfectionist personality traits:-
1. You get frustrated when you do not reach the goal you had in mind.
2. Even after the achievement of your goal, success isn’t enough.
3. You think in black and white terms.
4. You don’t start a project until the right moment comes.
So, is nail biting really a bad habit? Don’t be hard on yourself. Maybe it isn’t that bad after all. Now you have the perfect response- you are a perfectionist without the feeling of shame and embarrassment!
