Doing something very ugly, need suggestions on how to stop

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When I'm doing my homework/studying/reading, I feel a constant need to self-stimulate. Because I'm not constantly typing, during the time that I'm not typing, I feel the need to do something with my hands. To satisfy this need, I bite my knuckles. I've started doing this more than two years ago, and it is very, very ugly. If I don't bite my knuckles, I have to chew on something, so I eat. I tried chewing gum, but it makes me hungry more quickly, and the hungry feeling becomes distracting which means that I have to get up more frequently to get food. That breaks my concentration, and thus breaks my train of thought. I need to find a way to self-stimulate while studying that is intense enough to replace this habit.

That doesn't sound that bad I've seen worse.

I end up when I'm not using my hands I tend to have them is odd patterns in front of me.

Maybe you could find something to fiddle with like a pen, clothes peg or other sort of clipping/snapping gadget. Or those squeezable exercise balloons, something like that?

Hmm, maybe it's not as bad as self-injury. However, people do notice and ask me about why some of my knuckles are redder than others. And I always have to explain. It does look quite ugly. I wear gloves sometimes. However, the weather is very warm now, and my hands sweat if I wear gloves, which is kind of gross.
I've tried wearing gloves to stop myself from doing this. But it's difficult to write in gloves, to type, as well as to turn pages. So, studying in gloves is really not an option.

Edit: @ ladarzak: Yeah, I've done that before. It's just not as stimulating as biting, for some reason.

Last edited by MathGirl on 05 Apr 2010, 9:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I wanted to tell you that you're not alone. I pick my fingernail cuticles. It can get kinda nasty at times, and I can tell how stressed out I am by looking at my fingers. It's the worse for me at work because at work I won't rock out of fear of embarrassment. But perhaps rocking slightly might help you?

One thing that I tried that did help while I did it was wearing thin cotton gloves and keeping my hands very moisturized. Of course, I also won't do this at work. I do have a stress relief ball that I can play with at work but that only goes so far before my fingers are tired.

You could try typing what you are reading, if that might help you, or perhaps taking notes so that your hands are busy.

I've also read that weighted blankets help some Aspies to self-soothe. Some occupational therapists even have weighted vests for clients. You could try putting a blanket folded over several times on your lap if it's not too hot, or holding a large book on your lap.

Best of luck ... please share if you find something that helps you.

are you breaking the skin? If not, not so bad.

Me, I peel skin off my thumbs. The skin there is very dry, and irritates me. I peel it, it gets worse, sometimes bleeds. Then to make myself stop, I wear bandaids on my thumbs. I have managed to get this under control lately, and really moderated it. but it is a constant struggle against the urge.

maybe you can buy some Bitter Apple and spray it on your hands, before you do your homework.

I used to bite, chew, eat, or suck on stuff while i wrote to keep part of my brain pre-occupied. Now if i have to write a lot or have a big study session i listen to electro-noise music, like squarepusher, Kid 606, bola or Autechre and i rock. I've never written better!

I'm not a doggy, though, keep that in mind.

I just put some heavy books on my lap. Hope it will make me concentrate. I really want a weighted blanket or a pressure vest. They're quite expensive, though. I should have asked my parents for one on my birthday. Oh well, maybe I will be able to buy one over the summer. These squeeze toys don't work as well, unfortunately. For me, it has to be something very intense. I'm also going to try rubbing aluminum foil against my palm. It's quite hard and rough, which is perfect.

Music doesn't work very well as I have synesthesia. Very distracting. Any sort of music makes me imagine things in my head.

Better than my suggestion, teething ring.

It used to be real bad for me.

Plan A: Have nail clipper and a rough file nearby

As the skin dried out I felt a need to keep it smooth, by bitting or pulling it off. Still do while watching a good TV show or movie.

If I can keep the skin smooth I won't hurt myself so much.

Plan B: Bandaids when the bleeding doens't stop right away.

Mathgirl did the books help?
I have Ideas for cheap weighted lap pads if it did

Yes, pressure always helps, even if a little. I used to carry a shoulder bag and always put it on my lap in class, with my books inside and all. It actually helped me concentrate in class. How can I get cheap weighted lap pads? Enlighten me

So just wearing something heavy helps? I'll try that. Maybe thats why i like to wear a sweater regardless of the temperature.

Maybe those velcro weights around my forearm...

Might try those around my thighs too to keep the leg from bouncing.

Aquarium tubing. Buy different sizes to test which is the most bitable and keep it with you all the time. If my jaws weren't so screwed up I'd still do it. (Jaws screwed up for congenital reasons, not from the tubing.)

You can get some revolting flavoured stuff for putting on fingernails to stop biting - perhaps stick it on your knuckles? Half the battle is recognising you're doing it - the tastebuds make a handy early warning system