Obsessive behaviors

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I have been looking at OCD and other ritualistic "ailments" lately - including AS/HFA/PDD.
Any one but me got one? I rearrange everything in my house every 6 months and bite my fingernails.

Actually am trying very hard to stop biting nails since one of them ingrew - talk about painful, getting shot hurt less - so anybody got a nailbiting cure?

I have already tried - laquers, gloves, glue on surface, capsacin, aloe, paint, etc. No dice.

Have you tried nail varnish remover or a heavily scented perfume? My mother used to bite her nails terribly and found that these worked for her. If you have tried these and they didn't work you must have some tolerant tastebuds on you.

My dad rearranges everything in his house from time to time too and I think I get it off him. When I was living in Manchester, I probably rearranged my room about two or three times a year as I used to get bored of it. So I guess thats normal.

I used to bite my nails, and nothing in the way of taste put me off for longer than a day. I've recently been using handcream to try to soften my cuticles in order to push them back (I really was losing my nails under disgusting cuticles) and I've mostly stopped biting thme - simply because I've taken pride. though I have to know where an emery board is at all times though, in case I find a sharp bit and start nibbling. That's my weapon.

There's a thread entitled 'OCD' where I've recently posted the tip of my obsessive iceberg

no - I have not tried purfume or acetone. I will though. And forgive me I have been a nail biter since I was very little, so I am fingernail ignorant. What's an emory board?

Do you know what a nail file is? Because if you do - it's one of those. I can't explain it; sorry

Yep and thank you. No need for embarassment. I'm the ignorant one. Query: do you play the cello (?) or another instrument? No answer req. sorry if outta bounds. I play electric bass guitar, the ingrown nail is on my chording hand - hence the strong desire to quit eating said nails.

Be careful with the acetone. It is absorbed through the skin and harms your liver.
I chew gum---lots of it.
Also...have you considered the germs and disgusting things under your nails? The nastiness of that thought when you start chewing them may inhibit you.

I play violin / viola and clarinet (+ bass cl) - my nails are equally as bad on both hands

When I was about 10, I used to bite my nails, but a thoughtful classmate gave me some of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them, because of the taste. It worked for her, and it really helped me too.

I bite my nails. >.> It's been a habit I've had all my life, and I've been trying to break it, but not succeeding.

I have the top bit of a roller ball pen on me and fiddle with it, have done for years and break out in cold sweat if i ve nothing to fiddle with!

Other obsessive behaviours for me include not stepping on cracks (in tile, on the sidewalk, etc.) and doing everything in even numbers.

Cyberpunkwriter:

I play the cello. Do you as well?

Spriteling: No, I play the french horn and the electric bass. I am a huge fan of the cello sound however. Very mellow and incredibly expressive. I also enjoy the oboe - which my adopted father plays when he is not conducting, that is. I actually think he is a better oboeist (sp) though. Do you play professionally? Or just for your private pleasure? I occasionally fill in on French horn, but keep my bass playing to myself. I don't wish to scare people.

As to obsessive behaviors - I still bite my nails and I also like to have something in my hands to fiddle with, pen, paper clip, interesting stones... I keep a small collection of jewelry, stones, crystals, scraps of cloth, leather and faux fur, plus some small toys ( a pound purrie, a cat buddha, a small Darth Maul) near the computer to occupy my free hand.

Hoarding toy Routemasters.

to Spriteling and Cyberpunk: have you read Viktor Frankl's Man's search for meaning?

I can't express how MUCH I recommend it,
I've bought more than one time, made photocopies for people, gave it as a gift, etc

It's a beatiful book,

I recommend it a lot, it will definitely help you with that.

His advice:
Step on the cracks on purpose!
bite your nails, bite your toenails! bite everything!
and
learn to laugh at yourself

if you want to start reading something online, search for "logotherapy"

Cyberpunkwriter: I played the cello for three years in my school orchestra. I played from sixth to eight grade. After eighth grade, though, I moved to a differnt school. It is quite small, and I did not know that it had an orchestra, as it was an extracurricular activity, whereas at my previous school, orchestra was a class that you would take during the day. This year, I intend to join the orchestra, and get back to playing again. Apart from playing the cello, I am in a professional children's choir. On the whole, I find that I enjoy singing more than the cello. I am a very musical person, though, so I greatly enjoy both.