Let's talk about some common bad habits. Shall we?

Apart from obvious things such as burps and passing gas, which should not be done in public (yes, you're welcome to torment your family and friends with them), there are certain not-so-obvious habits that are hard to break, but socially unacceptable.

Different times in our lives, we may have engaged in these bad habits. Unfortunately, it's not only children who have been caught, adults are common culprits as well. Among others, Biting your cheeks, Picking your skin, Biting your cheeks, and Sucking your fingers are bad habits that people do subconsciously at times. You may ask, 'Well, what's wrong with it?" My answer is: a lot of things! These habits make others around you uncomfortable, and they are detrimental to your health.

Biting Cheeks

According to a NYC Cosmetic Dentist, Thomas Connelly, "I see a lot of cheek biting. Some cases are simply accidental, some cases are chronic, yet have easily remedied medical reasons, and some are physiological in nature."

Cause: Biting your cheeks is harmful it leaves a sore, and mouth sores are never fun. It's also linked to teeth misalignment and oral cancer - when it's done sporadically, i.e. out of control. Nevertheless, the most common cause is habit.

Skin Peeling

Skin picking is also known as Onychopagia. This condition may not sound really serious, but when you see your Dermatologist, you'll realize how significant it is. Skin-pickers tend to have blemishes on their faces and bodies; at times, there are scabs also known as Acne Excoria - a self-inflicted skin disorder that looks just like acne. Skin-pickers open and pick at the smallest pimple or blemish with their fingers, needles, tweezers, or other instruments.

Cause: this habit tend to happen usually when you are in two modes: (1) automatically, like in a trance or engaged in activity such: reading or watching TV where they are not really thinking ; (2)it also happens deliberately.

Nail Biting

This is not the same as the small little biting of rough nails or cuticle that most people do occasionally. These biters repeatedly bite their nails past the nail bed and cuticles until they bleed or sore. Look at your fingers, if your cuticles are rough and nails are jagged from your bites, then you're a nail biter.

Cause: Biting seems to deliver a pleasurable or relaxed feeling. Medical experts believe that when people feel stressed, Nail-biters get a "soothing effect on their nervous systems. It probably accounts for why so many people who dislike ding them find it so hard to stop. It simply feels good at the time, no matter what the consequences.

Treatment

These are stubborn problems for two reasons. First, you have probably rehearsed the unwanted behaviors hundreds or even thousands of times. It is important to accept that they will not simply be overcome in a few days or weeks. Second, you are fighting the fact that they feel good to do, and provide much short range satisfaction and soothing. It takes time and a good deal of effort to master, but I believe it is worth it.

For chronic "nervous habit" cheek biters, the solution may need some kind of substitute or "training" to eliminate the habit. For example, sugarless gum is something that can help. Or, if you are biting your lip, perhaps lip gloss/lip balm, which at least will make you "realize" what you are doing. Pay attention to when you bite your cheeks, and open your mouth. It makes you conscious of it, and the number of times you bite decreases. Also, "5 Seconds-Bite Treatment" is available in Walgreens and other pharmacy, You can request shipping too.

Even if you have more than one of these problems, don't despair. They can be overcome if you have the motivation. More important is learning to "de-stigmatize" yourself. You are not crazy, helpless, morally weak or totally out of control, even though you may feel like some or all of these things at times. Once you get down to realizing that you are just a person with a problem you can start to make some serious progress. There isn't a 'cure', but you can find a recovery if you work at it.

Overall, any bad habit can be overcome by picking up a new and related good habit. Research shows that it takes 21 days to overcome a bad habit. Rather than settle with these habits, be determined to eliminate them, and you'll not only feel healthier and BE healthier!

Source - http://www.infonubia.com/2013/12/lets-talk-about-it-common-bad-habits.html