We have seen players,
coaches and involved spectators biting and chewing their nails towards those
suspense-filled last moments of the game.
This habit can harm teeth and
also herald disease. Though not all
resort to such tactic, nail biting is an extremely common disease (age is no
bar), that is taken lightly by everyone and is usually brushed off as a 'bad
habit'. Nail biting, clinically known as
Onychophagia, is an impulse control disorder, in which sufferers start biting
their nails and the skin around the nails and cuticle, whenever they get
anxious or nervous. For nail biters, the habit is a self-soothing action, a way
to keep themselves alert and awake. According to dentists, it detrimental to
oral health, and is unhygienic as well. It is stated that
"Bacteria and germs from surroundings can enter through the oral cavity
and infect one."
Nail-biting might have an underlying psychological
problem, is what makes it grave. "Nail-biting is like an obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) ? it is a clear indication of deep-rooted anxiety,
passive aggression. It needs psychological treatment." Nails are hard. So, when you bite, one cause
excess stress to one’s teeth. Over time,
this weakens them and can eventually result in a tooth chipping or
breaking." Nail biting, say experts, can permanently damage nails, gums
and teeth and may cause teeth to become crooked and irregular." Nails
carry visible and invisible dirt that clings on even after a wash. Doctors say
this could cause various illnesses.
According to
another report in MailOnline, those who bite nails, would probably be
perfectionists. Experts
studied 48 people - half of whom suffered with repetitive behavior. People who suffer from repetitive behaviours
are more likely to bite their nails or pull their hair when frustrated - which
is a sign of perfectionism. In tests,
participants were more likely to start nibbling when frustrated and bored -
both feelings commonly associated with perfectionists.
The so-called body-focused
repetitive behaviours (BFRB) included nail-biting, hair-pulling and
skin-picking. 'We believe that individuals with these repetitive behaviours
maybe perfectionistic, meaning that they are unable to relax and to perform
tasks at a 'normal' pace,' said author Professor Kieron O'Connor from the
University of Montreal. 'They also experience greater levels of boredom.' He said there is a strong 'cognitive
component' to this style of action typically accompanied by perfectionist
beliefs relating to how organised a person is. 'Although these behaviours can induce
important distress, they also seem to satisfy an urge and deliver some form of
reward', says Kieron O'Connor.
Each participant took part
in four sessions designed to cause either feelings of stress, relaxation,
frustration, or boredom. Individuals with a history of repetitive behaviours
reported a greater urge to engage in these behaviours than those in the control
group during the boredom and frustration sections than when relaxed. The stress
session involved watching a video of a plane crash, while the video in the
relaxation section showed waves on a beach. Individuals with a history of
repetitive behaviours reported a greater urge to engage in these behaviours
than those in the control group during the boredom and frustration sections,
but not in the relaxation situation.
Frustration was triggered
by asking the participants to complete a task that was supposedly easy and
quick, but wasn't. Boredom was induced by leaving the participant alone in a
room for six minutes. Individuals with a history of repetitive behaviours
reported a greater urge to engage in these behaviours than those in the control
group during the boredom and frustration sections, but not in the relaxation
situation. 'The findings suggest that
individuals suffering from [these] behaviours could benefit from treatments
designed to reduce frustration and boredom and to modify perfectionist beliefs.'
The findings are published in the Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental
Psychiatry.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
16th Mar 2015.
