'Self-Injury with biting'

Self-Injury with biting

elizabeth jarvis (24.71.223.141) -

I have struggled with bi-polar since childhood .. would like to chat about self-injury ... in may case it is biting my hands .. started around January .. i don't seem to be able to stop ... would love to hear from you. Thanks!

Comment #1 Em (198.151.180.26) -

First, I would like to say thank you. Until now, I thought I was the only one that bit my hands. Specifically, I bite the knuckles on the indexfinger of my right hand. As hard as it is to hear, it is a form of self-mutilization, and it is important for you to accept it as such. I nearly lost friends over my biting. They were concerned and confronted me about it and I would yell at them and deny it. I understand how hard it is to admit, but biting is a form of self-injury. Probably the hardest part of getting over it is acknowledging that it is self-mutilation. Try bringing it to the attention of your friends, tell them not to let your hands anywhere near your face. You can also do research on it, don't neccessarily follow the advice of the web-sites or books, but know about the issue, be familiar with it, and you (as I did) may start to notice other self-injuring habits I have. It will be a long hard road, and you might have scars from the biting (I sure as hell do!) but it is better for you. Self-abuse is self-abuse, don't let it beat you, and don't let it continue. It really is dangerous, but I have faith that you can conquer it!

Namaste,

Emma

Comment #2 Anonymous (207.119.73.30) -

What do thay call this disorder? I bite my hands to...

Comment #3 Chris (203.87.64.154) -

Hi there

My son - he is 22 - has problems with hand biting and head rubbing when he is stressed.

We are trying to find ways to help.

How are you handling this issue now?

Chris

Comment #4 Stephanie (24.21.200.43) -

I also thought I was alone with biting. I started about 3 months ago after a really bad depression episode. I tend to go for the wrist area. If I'm in public or don't want to run the risk of someone asking about the mark, I use my knuckles. I've never drawn blood, but am biting harder and harder it seems.

Makes me feel better (less crazy??) to know I'm not the only one, but sad all the same for everyone.

Comment #5 Matanuska_Tundra (72.207.83.67) -

It's nice to know that I am no longer alone with the knuckle biting. I've been doing it since I was 6. I'm 23 now and would really like to stop doing it. I have scars on my index finger, thumb, and wrist on my left hand, and my index, thumb, middle finger and wrist on my right hand. So far, I've tried applying lotion and antibacterial lotion hourly or whenever I feel myself putting my hands near my face. I know enough at least to know what my triggers are (mostly anxiety/stress) and that it it is a form of self-injury (although I have no desire to hurt myself). I've tried replacing the behavior with eating Beef Jerky (the jerky has a soothing texture to it, similar to skin), but the behavior still continues, as I'm not able to buy Jerky all the time. I was wondering if there are any other approaches to definitely stopping this behavior. I don't have the money for psychoanalytic or cognitive-behavioral therapy and nothing else I've been doing seems to have definite impact.

Comment #6 randy (63.176.159.185) - Mon Oct 13 11:38:55 2008

I dont bite my hands.. i punch things and thats what gives me my satisfaction..

Comment #7 Hurdey (63.176.159.85) - Wed Oct 29 14:26:34 2008

I have read that bipolar disorder is a very serious disorder but not to this point. I believe you guys have tried psychological consultations and treatment. I wish I can suggest something useful because I can almost feel your suffering. Have you tried restraining or putting gloves around your hands? This is to avoid it from being injured and will serve as your first line of defense from your indiscriminate biting of your hands.

Comment #8 nemo. (92.233.202.175) - Sat Nov 15 13:33:47 2008

i bite my self to ... at first it never left marks ... i started doing it a 10/11 im now 12 ... now it leaves bruises and teeth marks i know that i shouldnt do it but it kinda makes me feel better if someone is annoying me i bite my hands or forearms sometimes i scratch my self :( i dont really know why i started but i just did ... :| as well as getting annoyed with other people i also get annoyed with myself or the way i feel about things ... it makes me feel stupid for doing it and i'd like to stop but i dont want to tell anyone because my mum just thinks that self-harmers do it for attention ... but mines not... cos im NOT proud :( if you can you should try to stop ...aparently rubber bands snapped against your wrist or holding ice cubes work ... :(

gd luck x

Comment #9 skye (71.241.130.73) - Tue Nov 25 21:17:53 2008

Hi!

I have a really bad/maybe addiction of biting my left top/side of my wrist. I started a week ago, just a biting contest w/ my friend and has branched to something which i think is serious. i have bitten myself so hard that i have bled and i have a scab as we speak. I am also using this biting tecnique as a way to escape emotional pain...and it's working. but i need help/ideas and i REFUSE to seek a psycologist, and yes i know this will certainly help but i dont feel comfortable letting my parents know about this. and im on the indoor track team and was on the xc team so ive tried running and its still not helping...so HELP

Comment #10 cdg (152.7.43.254) - Wed Dec 10 01:20:45 2008

Im 20 now, ive been biting my hands since way back in elementary school. Kind of quit in high school because it drew looks, but some recent stress the past few years have brought it back out.

It always seems that all the stress/anger builds up fast and heavy, but the bite kind of tears it all back down soothingly. It doesn't happen very often, but wonder if i should see a shrink/counselor or something. I dont really care about the social stigma that much, just want to be able to handle stress/situations without freaking out.

Comment #11 dustin (63.176.159.37) - Fri Dec 19 13:22:06 2008

i always bite my nails.. but i don't think its an addiction.

Comment #12 Julie (79.64.112.118) - Thu Dec 25 07:14:08 2008

I have bitten my hand since I was very young too (maybe from around age 10, I am now 43). The trigger was probably stress when I was young because of very stressful situations at home. It used to be all my hand so I would go to school with obvious bite marks which I am surprised teachers didn't note. These bite marks have heeled as I have got older and I no longer bite my hand but bite my fingers.

It happens when I am angry, either at myself or a situation such as things constantly going wrong or when angry at my family.

This not only helps me relieve stress, I also do it to release other emotions such as intense feelings towards my dog. I know this might sound bizarre but I can look at him being cute and it makes me want to bite my hand. This makes my family laugh. I want to stop but it's an automatic response and has left marks and dry skin patches. I do this many times a day when I see him.

I found this website by googling hand biting as I am curious as to how many others do this. Although I agree it is a form of self-injury I don't intend to injure myself and it's not always done in a negative way (also to express positive feelings)

Not sure I could change this behaviour now as I have done it so long. The biting through intense positive feelings as only since I got my dog over a year ago and occasionally did it with my cats.

PS: I am not weird:o)

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