Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit? - PubMed - NCBI Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit? 1Dean Foundation for Health, Research and Education, Madison, WI 53717-1914. Abstract BACKGROUND: Conditions once considered bad habits are now recognized as psychiatric disorders (trichotillomania, onychopagia). We hypothesized that nose picking is another such "habit," a common benign practice in most adults but a time-consuming, socially compromising, or physically harmful condition (rhinotillexomania) in some. METHODS: We developed the Rhinotillexomania Questionnaire, mailed it to 1000 randomly selected adult residents of Dane County, Wisconsin, and requested anonymous responses. The returned questionnaires were analyzed according to age, sex, marital status, living arrangement, and educational level. Nose picking was characterized according to time involved, level of distress, location, attitudes toward self and others regarding the practice, technique, methods of disposal, reasons, complications, and associated habits and psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-four subjects responded.

Ninety-one percent were current nose pickers although only 75% felt "almost everyone does it"; 1.2% picked at least every hour. For 2 subjects (0.8%), nose picking caused moderate to marked interferences with daily functioning. Two subjects spent between 15 and 30 minutes and 1 over 2 hours a day picking their nose. For 2 others, perforation of the nasal septum was a complication. Associated "habits" included picking cuticles (25%), picking at skin (20%), biting fingernails (18%), and pulling out hair (6%). CONCLUSION: This first population survey of nose picking suggests that it is an almost universal practice in adults but one that should not be considered pathologic for most. For some, however, the condition may meet criteria for a disorder-rhinotillexomania. PMID: Get the Help You Need to Stop Picking. Learn Evidence Based Methods that Work.

enroll now Nose Picking (Rhinotillexomania) When compulsive skin picking takes on the form of habitual nose picking (rhinotillexomania), there is particular need to beware the risk of causing very severe illness if the habit is allowed to develop to excess. Nose picking (rhinotillexomania) may need some of the same psychological and medical interventions that other forms of compulsive skin picking employ. The two disorders are so similar in nature that most treatment options for one works for the other. The Greek origins of the medical term for nose picking (rhinotillexomania) can be translated as "nose" (rhino) plus "habitual picking" (tillexis) plus "rage, fury" (mania) and together they provide a very telling description of the disorder. It's frequently because we are feeling suppressed rage and fury that we pick away habitually at the contents of our noses, even when we do it to the extent that we cause pain, which leads to more rage and fury. After all, the stuff in there's got to come out sometime. Right? Everybody picks his or her nose from time to time.

According to the records inscribed on a papyrus scroll from ca. 1330 BC, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen provided the food and lodging of his own personal nose picker. And the imperial nose picker was paid three heads of cattle for his work, too. Most of us probably wouldn't want our own personal nose picker, especially those of us who have the tendency toward compulsive nose picking (rhinotillexomania). There's satisfaction in doing the work ourselves. There's relief. There's also danger. Nose picking (rhinotillexomania) can lead to infections in the nose, which is situated very close to the brain. They share the same blood supply. Getting an infection anywhere in the area doctors call the "danger triangle" presents a good cause for alarm. The danger triangle can be traced from one corner of the mouth, over the bridge of the nose, and down to the opposite corner of the mouth. Any time infection in this area occurs, there is the very rare but very real risk that the infection can spread to the brain. Most people who pick their noses for strictly hygienic purposes have little, if any, need to fear such an infection.

However, anyone suffering from the compulsive form of nose picking (rhinotillexomania), who is at risk of picking excessively and to the point of impeding the healing process, is at greater risk of infection. The earliest medical intervention possible for the compulsion to pick may eliminate the necessity for antibiotics and emergency medical interventions due to infection later. For more information about Nose Picking (Rhinotillexomania) causes and treatment, get the Complete Guide to Picking Disorders today. Live a Happier Life - Free from Picking Stop picking with online therapy program, based on CBT. Enroll now Keep In Touch We regularly send out interesting information and news about the skin picking disorder. If you want to be up to date with everything that's new in the field, please subscribe to our newsletter... No spam BBC - Future - Why do we pick our nose? Biology Why do we pick our nose? Poking around inside our nostrils is disgusting, unhygienic and potentially harmful, so it’s baffling that it’s as common as it is, says Jason G Goldman. By Jason G Goldman 2 February 2015 Most of us do it, but few of us will admit to it.

If we get caught red-handed, we experience shame and regret. And we tend to frown upon others when they do it in public. I'm talking, of course, about reaching up into your nostrils with a finger in an effort to scrape out snot. Is nose-picking really all that bad? How prevalent or bad is it, really? And why (really, why?) would anybody ever decide to see what snot tastes like? The formal medical term used to describe the act of picking one's nose is “rhinotillexomania”. The first systematic scientific study of the phenomenon may have been undertaken as recently as 1995, by a pair of US researchers named Thompson and Jefferson. They sent a survey by mail to 1,000 adult residents of Dane County, Wisconsin. Of the 254 that responded, a whopping 91% of their respondents confessed to picking their noses, while only 1.2% could admit to doing it at least once each hour. Two subjects indicated that their nasal mining habits interfered with their daily lives (moderately to markedly).

And, to their surprise, two other people reported so much nose picking that they had actually picked a hole right trough their nasal septum, the thin tissue that separates the left and right nostrils. View image of (Thinkstock) (Credit: Thinkstock) It wasn't a perfect study; only about a quarter of those surveyed responded, and those who already had a personal interest in nose picking may have been more likely to complete and return the survey. Still, it underscored the likelihood that nose picking, despite its cultural taboos, is pretty widespread. Young habit Five years later, doctors Chittaranjan Andrade and BS Srihari of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in Bangalore, India, decided to look a little deeper into nose-picking. They reasoned that most habitual behaviours are more common among kids and teenagers than among adults, so it made sense to survey younger populations rather than older populations, to get a sense for how prevalent nose picking might be. In addition, knowing that the Wisconsin study suffered from a possible response bias, they distributed their surveys in school classrooms, where they would have a much higher likelihood of getting a representative sample.

They focused on four schools within Bangalore, one catering to children from families of lower socioeconomic status (SES), two whose students tended to come from middle-class families, and a fourth school where students came from higher-earning households. In all, Andrade and Srihari compiled data from 200 teenagers. Nearly all of them admitted to picking their noses, on average four times per day. That's not all that enlightening; we knew this. But what are interesting are the patterns. Only 7.6% of students reported sticking their fingers into their noses more than 20 times each day, but nearly 20% thought they had a “serious nose-picking problem”. Most of them said they did it to relieve an itch or to clear out nasal debris, but 24 of them, i.e. 12%, admitted that they picked their nose because it felt good. View image of (SPL) (Credit: SPL) And it wasn't just fingers. A total of 13 students said they used tweezers to pick their noses, and nine said they used pencils. Nine of them – nine! – admitted to eating the treasures obtained from their nose picking activities. Yum.

There were no differences according to socioeconomic class; nose picking is something that truly unites us all. There were, however, some gender differences. Boys were more likely to do it, while girls were more likely to think it a bad habit. Boys were also statistically more likely to have additional bad habits, like biting their nails (onychophagia) or pulling out their hair (trichotillomania). Facial mutilation Nose picking isn’t just a harmless activity, though. In some extreme cases, nose-picking can cause, or be related to, more serious problems, as Andrade and Srihari found when they reviewed the medical literature. In one case, surgeons could not achieve complete, lasting closure of a perforated nasal septum because a patient couldn’t stop nose picking, preventing the surgical site from healing. Then there was a 53-year-old woman whose chronic nose picking not only led to a perforation of her nasal septum; she actually carved a hole into her sinus.

View image of (SPL) (Credit: SPL) And there was a 29-year-old man who had a previously undocumented convergence of trichotillomania (hair-plucking) and rhinotillexomania (nose-picking). It forced his doctors to coin a new term: rhinotrichotillomania . His behaviour involved compulsively pulling out his nose hairs. When his hair pulling got too extreme, his nose would become inflamed. To treat the inflammation, he began applying a solution that had the side effect of staining his nose purple. To his surprise, the purple stain concealed his visible nose hairs, making him far more relaxed. He was actually more comfortable leaving the house with a purple nose than with visible nose hairs. His doctors, who succeeded in treating him with drugs, describe his compulsion as a manifestation of body dysmorphic disorder, which is sometimes thought of as an "obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder". Nose for danger Most of us can rest safe knowing that our occasional, discreet nose picking is probably not the pathological variety.

It's interesting that despite the fact that nail-biting and nose-hair plucking are well-recognised manifestations of obsessive-compulsive disorder , rhinotillexomania is generally not. But that doesn't mean it's completely safe. In a 2006 study , a group of Dutch researchers found that nose picking can help bacterial infections get around. They discovered that nose pickers at an ear, nose, and throat clinic were more likely to carry Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in their noses than non-pickers. Among healthy volunteers, they found something similar: a positive correlation between self-reported nose-picking frequency and both the frequency with which their nasal cultures housed the nasty beasties, and the amount of S. aureus present in those cultures. View image of (SPL) (Credit: SPL) So, given all these risks, and the potential for provoking disgust in other people, why do we still do it?

There are no clear answers, but as Tom Stafford wrote recently about nail-biting , perhaps it’s a combination of the simple satisfaction we derive from ‘tidying-up’ and the fact that our nose is within easy reach all the time – in other words, we pick it ‘because it’s there’. Or perhaps nose picking is just evidence of laziness. Fingers, after all, are never in short supply when you feel the urge to clear your nostrils. Which is more than can be said about a box of tissues. It's gratifying to know that some researchers are still trying to understand the reasons we pick our noses and the consequences that arise from it. In 2001, the Indian researchers, Andrade and Srihari, were recognised for their work with an Ig Nobel prize, which is given for research that first makes you laugh and then makes you think. At the ceremony, Andrade remarked, "some people poke their nose into other people's business.

I made it my business to poke my business into other people's noses." How to Stop Picking Your Nose: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Community Q&A Do you have a habitual need to pick your nose, even to the point where you have started doing it in public ? It is time to stop this unhygienic and unpleasant-to-witness habit right now. Read these tips to kick that nose-picking habit. Steps 1 Accept that you have a problem. If you pick your nose regularly, own up to it. A habit is something that we tend to stop noticing over time and just accept as the norm. Nose-picking may start at home but soon creeps into the public sphere, where you justify it as "just a little pick" or tell yourself that people won't notice. People do notice and they don't appreciate it, especially if close friends see you doing it constantly. 2 Figure out what triggers your need to pick your nose. If it’s merely a habit, it’s likely that you just became comfortable doing it over time and now functions as a form of reassurance or something to do with your hands. On the other hand, there are legitimate reasons that might have led you to start picking your nose.

For example, you may have had a medical condition that caused the nasal cavity to become itchy or filled with debris that you just had to remove to keep from going nuts. If the problem is ongoing, then it is time to see your medical professional to see what the issue might be. It could be a sign of something more serious stuck up your nose than just your fingers. 3 Clean out your nose every morning/evening. Try a sinus rinse that uses saline to wash out the place in your nose where the mucus originates. Eliminating the booger source eliminates booger creation. No boogers, no urge to pick. Try an electric nose-hair trimmer. Excessive nose hair can lead to clogging of the nose and the need to clear it. Also, your significant other will appreciate it. Get a model you can rinse under the sink and optimally has a small vacuum for catching trimmed hairs. 4 Change your behavior. Some say habits take 21 days to break. For the next 21 days you have a task to stop picking that nose and to find something else to do with your errant fingers. Here are some things to try: Note the times and occasions when you are more likely to pick your nose.

Is it in front of the TV, when you feel stressed or bored , or when you’re lost in your own thoughts while driving or in front of the computer? Note the times and occasions to be prepared. Leave yourself post-it notes around the place to remind you how clean your nose is. If you don’t want people to know that this is what you’re doing, write or draw a code word or sign. (Then again, trying to stop is hardly more embarrassing than doing it in the first place.) Have alternatives. Give your fingers something else to do. Read a book and keep your fingers on the pages at all times. Eat some celery sticks and hummus when you're hungry. Play a video game, play a board game, or do a puzzle. Write stories , do the bills, or text a friend. Deal with any stressors that lead to nose-picking instead of picking the nose. If you find you pick your nose at times you can't be busy (like going to bed or waking up), try wearing gloves. This will help stop during weak moments when you’re alone and aren't thinking clearly. Use a tissue or handkerchief . Remove the offending nasal object neatly and swiftly and be done with it.

Blow your nose for good measure. Put a band-aid on your finger. Since you probably pick your nose with a particular hand and finger, putting a band-aid on that finger for a few days will keep it from going unconsciously into your nose. As a more seemly alternative, tie a string around that finger. If anyone asks, you can tell them it’s to remember a project or chore. Slice and handle hot peppers. If you try to pick your nose with spice on your fingers, you'll create memories of why you should never pick your nose. If you eat your boogers, apply a nail-biting remedy to your fingers. The stuff tastes awful. 5 Change your thought process. Every morning, noon, and night, affirm that you will stop. Say something aloud to yourself like "My nose is clean. I am very busy with my hobby/TV program/teeth cleaning etc., and my nose is fine as it is." This is a positive affirmation. Avoid negative affirmations ("Don't pick your nose") because the subconscious doesn’t recognize negation and will focus on the forbidden activity; instead, provide it with an alternative focus like whatever else you’re working on.

Think about what you are doing to your nose when you pick it. Untold number of germs are being inserted every time you pick it, not to mention other particles or chemicals (particularly if you work in such industries as spray-painting, manicuring, hairdressing, printing, gas-pumping, etc). If you handle money, really think twice before moving your finger straight from the money to the nose... Think about what people see when you pick your nose. They see someone who is unrestrained and ill-mannered, untaught in the ways of public etiquette, unhygienic and slothful. It connotes self-indulgence, childishness, and lack of respect for oneself . If you want to date or get a job , think twice about picking. 6 Ask others to help you. Choose people whom you trust and are intimate friends and ask them kindly restrain your nose-picking habit by pointing out gently to you each time they view it. Have a code word or signal, such as a finger tapping their nose as a gentle reminder rather than an uncouth "Stop picking' ya nose, will ya?" 7 If you must do it publicly, keep it inconspicuous.

If you really, really can't resist, at least do it where nobody else can see you, or pick it inconspicuously . One way out to do this is to make it a point of removing mucus from the nostrils every time you go to washroom. The more you clean in closed quarters, the less you’ll need to do it publicly. Community Q&A Can I get nosebleeds from picking my nose? wikiHow Contributor Yes. If you end up peeling off a small amount of skin, your nose may start to bleed. I save my boogies up then make a boogey sandwich, is that normal? wikiHow Contributor I have a bad habit of picking and wiping it somewhere. How can I stop? wikiHow Contributor Try keeping your hands busy. When they're busy, you don't have a chance to pick your nose, therefore you can't wipe it anywhere. When I pick my nose how do I make it stop bleeding? wikiHow Contributor It depends on how much your nose is bleeding. If it is going crazy, then that's not good and you should ask your doctor for help. If it's dripping, run to a sink or bath and let it drain for a bit and then wipe it up.

And perhaps stop picking it, to stop the bleeding from being triggered. Does picking my nose affect my health? wikiHow Contributor It's unhealthy, as opening up spots in your nose provides an attractive place for bacteria to settle. This may develop into an infection, but that's rare. Just stop picking: it's for the best. What happens when I'm in public and my nose bleeds? wikiHow Contributor Go immediately to a bathroom and take tissues with you. If there isn't any bathroom just try to stopper it with tissues. See your doctor if you keep experiencing such bleeding. What if I don't have a tissue paper around and I really want to pick my nose? wikiHow Contributor Find something else to do with your hands until you you can get a tissue or handkerchief. I pick my nose then eat it. Someone said it was good for you. Is that true? wikiHow Contributor Is there a nose-wiping option other than tissues or toilet paper? wikiHow Contributor Is picking your nose a sign of worms? wikiHow Contributor If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.

Tips Try to keep a small packet of tissues with you so if you have the feeling you need to pick your nose use a tissue! Borrow an idea on changing habits from Ben Franklin: carry a small notebook and give yourself a black mark each time you catch yourself picking your nose. Check the total each night, and resolve each morning to stay at zero. Use the notebook to engage your awareness and willpower. Religiously keep the total for several weeks, until you can go a week or more with zero points. Try keeping a reward chart, set a goal for a time you don't want to pick your nose.Once you complete your goal give yourself a treat to reward yourself. Tie a rubber band around your wrist. Every time you get the urge to pick your nose, "snap" yourself with the rubber band. If you tend to eat food with your fingers such as burgers, chicken or sandwiches a lot, then don't put on the nail biting remedy as you can taste it in the food. Try making yourself aware of when your picking your nose and slap your hand hard so it burns and that will remind you to stop picking your nose. (Don't hurt yourself though). Have someone take a photo of you picking your nose.

Put it on your computer screensaver. Stick it where you'll see it. Stick it all over the place if needs be. It is a reminder of what nose-picking on your face looks like. If you can't do this all in one day, start by cutting down on your nose picking. Try to keep your fingers out of your nose for most of the day by following the guide. Keep cutting down day by day until you don't pick your nose at all. Wear gloves to keep you from picking your nose. Every-time you have an urge to pick your nose, bite down on the inside of your cheek, or flick yourself on your face, or snap a rubber band on your wrist, etc. Use a tissue if you can't resist. Warnings Can nose-picking lead to health hazards? Yes. For example, you could pick too hard and cause your nose to bleed . You could introduce foreign particles. You could introduce parasites. You could also infect a nose hair folliculus and develop an ugly looking, painful nose pimple. Much of it depends on the cleanliness of your hands and the ferocity of your picking. But the end results are no joking matter if your nose-picking leads to health problems.

[1] See your health professional if straight-talking and self-reasoning don't work. You might be suffering from compulsive nose-picking (rhinotillexomania) and this may need medical and/or psychological treatment and intervention, especially if it relates to a traumatic event in your life. [2] Picking your nose may lead to major inflammation to the nose and also pimples spreading in the nostril.[ citation needed ] Things You'll Need What Are the Causes of Nose Picking? | eHow What Are the Causes of Nose Picking? bogeyman image by pavel siamionov from Fotolia.com Most people think nose picking is gross and unsanitary and claim they never engage in such lowly behavior. But according to a 1995 survey conducted by “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry,” 91 percent of 254 people anonymously identified themselves as current nose pickers. It seems more people are picking their noses than they would care to admit. Nose picking is an innocent behavior for most. For a smaller percentage, it can become a psychiatric disorder. Bad Habit The most common cause of nose picking occurs when a person occasionally picks his nose while lost in thought or out of sheer boredom.

This action is comparable to someone biting his or her nails or cuticles or picking at a scab absentmindedly. This is considered an occasionally performed bad habit and nothing more. It is not uncommon to witness nose picking performed in public. A driver lost in thought while stopped at a red light may be spotted picking his nose. A bored office worker may be caught picking her nose at her desk. People who are caught picking their noses are usually embarrassed since most people think that nose picking should be conducted in private. Relieving Irritation Nasal passages have a tendency to become dried out and irritated by such things as excessively dry atmospheres, allergies, chemicals and air pollution. A common response to nasal dryness and irritation is to pick and scratch at the offending area. Just as scratching at dry patches on the hands or face will not cure the dryness, and may, in fact make it worse, nose picking to relieve nasal irritation will not stop the irritation from occurring. As an alternative to nose picking, products created to relieve these issues are recommended. Some examples include moisturizing nasal sprays, allergy medications and neti pots for nasal irrigation.

Removing Nasal Secretions Head colds, sinus infections and allergies cause nasal secretions, or mucus, to build up within the nasal passages. These secretions start out wet but then dry up over time. Head colds and sinus infections can cause large amounts of mucus to be present in the nose, obstructing the passages and making it difficult to breathe. Allergies may produce a steady, dripping and highly irritating stream of secretions to flow from the nose. This blockage or stream of mucus prompts a person to pick in his nose in an attempt to remove the build-up of mucus or wipe away the secretions. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive nose picking, called rhinotillexomania, is considered an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People afflicted with rhinotillexomania may require medical or psychological help to prevent them from becoming severely injured or sick. This disorder is characterized by its sufferers’ overwhelming feelings of anxiety and nervousness and tendencies to suppress anger. In order to relieve these negative feelings, people with this disorder pick their noses so excessively that injury is a common occurrence. The injured areas are prevented from healing because of the relentless picking.

This, in turn, can easily lead to infection, which can spread to the brain. If the brain becomes infected, antibiotics or emergency medical care is necessary. Stop Nose Picking | Self Hypnosis Downloads You are here: Home > Bad Habits > Stop Nose Picking Stop picking your nose! Obsessive nose picking (also known as rhinotillexomania) can cause real problems. Apart from people perceiving nose picking as disgusting and therefore anti-social you can damage the inner linings of your nose if you compulsively nose pick. Of course the alternatives are to use a hanky or tissue but if you pick your nose obsessively it's not because you don't know about hygiene it's because you have an obsessive habit. Nose picking is an unconscious habit You've probably caught yourself picking your nose without even being aware of it. This is because any habit like this will become unconsciously driven just like nail biting or teeth grinding . Because hypnosis deals with the unconscious mind it's a wonderful way to deal with unwanted compulsions. If you pick your nose occasionally in private then it's no problem but if it's causing problems for you like bleeding or social embarrassment because you keep doing it publicly then it's time you got it sorted out.

This session will appeal to the part of your mind which has been maintaining the nose picking so that it can quickly and comfortably stop. Download Stop Picking Your Nose now and make sure people never catch you at it again! Stop Nose Picking has been purchased by 506 customers. Why you can relax about buying from Hypnosis Downloads... Please put your mind at rest - every hypnosis download is crafted by our team of 4 experienced hypnotherapists, so you are getting the very best self hypnosis available. With over 24,000 people trained and more than 600,000 mp3 audios purchased, we are the world's largest hypnosis provider. However, we realize that not all downloads work equally well for everybody, so if you find this doesn't do what you wanted, simply let us know within 90 days and we will refund you in full, no questions asked (One order per customer). Stop Nose Picking Picking Your Nose Click here to go to the current Useless Information site. This story is based on the research titled Rhinotillexomania: Psychiatric Disorder or Habit? by James W. Jefferson, M.D.

(Dean Foundation for Health, Research, and Education) and Trent D. Thompson, M.D. (University of Wisconsin Medical School) which appears in the February, 1995 issue of The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (pages 56-59). Another issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry features a related article titled Life Threatening Self-Mutilation of the Nose by Salman Akhtar, M.D. and Brian W. Hastings, M.D. (August, 1978, pages 676-677). A short summary of this research can be found in the book Strange Days #2 (p. 24, 1997, Fortean Times and Cader Books, New York). Do we all do it? As you know, this website has always specialized in stories that are a bit unusual. In fact, some are just downright weird. First there was the story on Condoms and Coca-Cola . Then, without hesitation, we gave you the famous Headless Chicken page. And now - you guessed it - we proudly present you with a page devoted to nose-picking.

Now I'm sure that we all know how one goes about picking their nose, so we can skip the step-by-step instructions. We've all caught someone at sometime picking their nose. Some try to do it in secret. Others do it openly without embarrassment. Maybe even you have been caught in the act. Nose-picking is one disgusting habit and is certainly not socially acceptable. So, are these people normal? One would guess that this is not the type of thing researched at our institutions of higher learning. Guess again. Believe it or not, there was a study on nose-picking published in February of 1995 in the Journal of Psychiatry. Yes, you read it right - college professors being paid the big bucks to find out who picks their nose. Of course, scientists must give everyday things complicated scientific names. Nose-picking is a term for us common folk. Nose-picking should really be referred to as rhinotillexomania (rhino=nose, tillexis=habit of picking at something, mania=obsession with something). So, the next time that you see a person picking their nose, tell them that they are a rhinotillexomaniac.

The researchers prepared their "Rhinotillexomania Questionnaire" and randomly mailed it to 1000 residents in Dane County, Wisconsin. Each survey included a cover letter that stated "The University of Wisconsin is conducting a survey of a common but understudied habit scientifically known as 'rhinotillexomania'. Its common name is nose-picking." Even better, the letter actually defined what nose-picking is: "Insertion of a finger (or other object) into the nose with the intention of removing dried nasal secretions." I'll bet that you already knew that. Can you imagine getting this survey in the mail? Even with the University's seal on the stationary, one would have to wonder whether this was a joke or not. Now for the results (assuming that they are reliable): Of the 1000 surveys mailed out, only 254 were completed and returned to the researchers. 8.7% claim that they have never picked their nose. (In other words, they are liars or they can't remember doing it as a kid.) 91% stated that they had picked their nose in the past and were still actively practicing this habit.

Yet, only 49.2% of the respondents actually thought that nose-picking was common in adults. 9.2% rate their pickin' as "more than average." 25.6% actually pick their noses daily, 22.3% do it 2 to 5 times each day, and three people admitted to doing it at least hourly. 55.5% spent 1-5 minutes, 23.5% spent 5-15 minutes, and 0.8% (2 people) spent 15-30 minutes each day cleaning their nostrils. One lone soul claims to devote over 2 hours each day to this ritual (I'm not a doctor and I can tell you that this guy definitely has rhinotillexomania). 18% reported nosebleeds, while 0.8% claimed perforation of the nasal septum from their nose-picking.

82.8% had picked their noses to "unclog the nasal passages", 66.4% had done it to relieve discomfort or itchiness, 35.7% to avoid the unsightly appearance of a booger hanging from their nose, 34.0% for personal hygiene, and 17.2% picked out of habit. 2.1% (five people) claimed to pick solely for enjoyment. To no one's surprise, one perverted person picked his/her nose for "sexual stimulation." 65.1% use their index finger, 20.2% use their pinky, and 16.4% use their thumb (must have BIG nostrils to fit a thumb in) as their instrument of choice. Most people (90.3%) disposed of the goop in a tissue or a handkerchief, while 28.6% used the floor, and 7.6% stuck it to the furniture. 8% of the respondents actually ate the end product. In case you are thinking of trying this delicacy, the study claims that the pickings are quite tasty (salty). So, what have we learned from this groundbreaking study?

First, we now have positive proof that picking one's nose is almost a universally practiced custom, although most won't admit to it. Second, boogers apparently taste good, although I can guarantee to you that I will never do the taste testing to find out. And, lastly, when researchers are devoting money and time to studying the picking habits of the United States, it comes as no surprise that we can't find a cure for cancer or HIV. Useless? Useful? I’ll leave that for you to decide. If you liked this story, please check out our Body- Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB's) Peer Groups Body- Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) Body- Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) is an umbrella term for any chronic behavior that causes a person to consistently cause physical damage to oneself unintentionally through a compulsive act in order to relieve anxiety.

BFRBs are pathological grooming behaviors that are thought to be driven by similar impulsive urges, linking them together but manifesting differently in the following ways: Dermatillomania/ Excoriation Disorder: Compulsive Skin Picking/ Chronic Skin Picking (CSP), Dermatillomania, Skin Picking Disorder, Acne Excoriee, Neurotic Excoriation, Pathological Skin Picking (PSP), Self Injurious Skin Picking (SISP) and Psychogenic Excoriation are all terms used to describe a psychological disorder that manifests by an overwhelming urge to pick at one’s own skin to the extent that damage is caused. ( see more… ) Dermatophagia: This skin biting disorder often coincides with Onychophagia. Most sufferers with Dermatophagia bite the skin around their fingers compulsively. This disorder also includes those who compulsively bite their cheeks or their lips which can cause blistering and open wounds. Some sufferers of Dermatophagia also have Dermatillomania and feel compelled to pick at the healing or calloused skin (with teeth, nails, or “tools”).

Onychophagia: One of the most common BFRB’s, Onychophagia is the medical term for compulsive nail biting. This disorder is socially acceptable and often deemed a “habit”. Complications may occur when nails are bitten down to the cuticle, causing debilitating pain and possibly infection. Onychotillomania: Not to be confused with Onychophagia, Onychotillomania is the compulsive need to pick at or tear off one’s nails, named by Polish dermatologist Jan Alkiewicz. Rhinotillexomania: While most common in children, Rhinotillexomania (compulsive nose picking) affects many adults on a universal scale. Most people who pick their nose habitually do not have a BFRB; however, it becomes problematic when a sufferer continually causes damage to his/ her nose and is unable to stop the compulsive behavior, much like Dermatillomania, and both are treated in the same manner.

Rhinotillexomania has the additional risk factor of infections because the “danger triangle” consists of sharing the same blood flow from the bridge of the nose to each corner of the mouth making it easier for infections to travel to the brain. Onychophagia or Dermatophagia? Scab Eating Disorder: How Trichophagia relates to Trichotillomania is how Dermatillomania coincides with Scab Eating Disorder where a smaller percentage of those who pick their skin finish their picking ritual by eating the piece of skin that is removed from the body. If medically recognized, this problem should follow the Greek system of naming and be called “Dermaphagia”, although it has potential to be confused with “Dermatophagia”. Trichophagia: This disorder, often a sub-category of Trichotillomania, is the term for the hair eating disorder. Some sufferers of Trichophagia eat hair off of brushes (their own or others) or chew their own hair and ingest it. It sometimes coincides with Trichotillomania after a pull as part of a ritual in order to achieve relief from anxiety.

This disorder can be dangerous as hairs accumulate in the stomach which can result in surgery to remove the blockage it causes. Trichotemnomania: This behavior is the conscious act of compulsively shaving or cutting one’s own hair. A sufferer can be drawn to these behaviors as stress relievers because it can signify a form of cleansing or need for perfection, which teeters into the OCD spectrum or Body Dysmorphic Disorder categories- it’s not a clear-cut BFRB. The media may play a role in influencing this behavior with western culture focused on the cleanliness and perfection surrounding a flawless image when pertaining to a lack of body hair. Trichotillomania: A “sister syndrome” to Dermatillomania, this disorder most commonly causes a sufferer to pull out hairs from his/ her scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or facial hair. While these are the most known areas (due to the distress it can cause a sufferer) of focus Trichotillomania expands to the compulsive pulling of any bodily hair. Often times it crosses over with skin picking due to the fine line of relieving anxiety by a pick or pull, directly affecting a sensation on the skin.

Many people who have one BFRB find themselves with traits of others because of how interlinked they are due to how the impulse affects them. It is important to speak to your physician or therapist if you are concerned about having any of these BFRB’s while keeping in mind the difference between having a habit or having a chronic condition . While there are other behaviors that are considered to be harmful to the body when practiced compulsively, they fall under the Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum, Impulse Control Disorder, or triggered by Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or other mental health afflictions instead of being BFRB’s. These behaviors may relieve anxiety in a person but when an external factor is brought into the equation causing it to not be a direct effect of body-to-body contact (although Trichotemnomania is in the “grey area”), it does not fall under the category of Body- Focused Repetitive Behaviors.

This list includes: Excessive tanning Compulsive hand- washing and/ or showering Obsession/ Addiction to plastic surgery Excessive tattooing/ body piercing Weight Modification (turning into a disorder, such as Anorexia, Bulimia, or Muscle Dysphoria) Compulsive exercising Cutting/ Burning ( see #3 ) Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and addictive drugs/ medications all fall under the Addiction category; these are also separate from BFRB’s because they are chemically induced. Although not all addiction is purely chemical for some people (others have emotional/ psychological attachments to the drug), these substances contain elements that have an external influence, which BFRB’s do not. Although OCD, Habits, Impulse Control Disorders, Addictions, and BFRB’s have similarities based on their effects on a person, they have components to their categorizations that separate them from each other, even if seemingly on an acute level. What can be agreed on is that each behavior listed in these categories can require counseling to overcome and people are able to benefit from support groups available for each affliction.

There are a lack of supports available due to a lack of awareness, research, or training, which makes it vital for the community to band together and build onto the small lists of resources already available. Another great post! I suffer from dermatillomania but I also chew compulsively at the skin around my nails – I had no idea there was another name for this! Thanks for sharing 🙂 amie Yeah I had no idea it had a name either other than OCD. I’ve suffered my entire life with this and at times, my feet and hands would be so raw from picking and pulling the skin that I could barely get out of bed and go to school. It was incredibly painful. I couldn’t explain it to my parents because they had no idea what it was when I was a kid either. I just kept going to therapists, psychiatrists, physical doctors for prescription wound dressing, etc. I thought I’d never feel good and painless enough to hang out with “normal” people. At the end of high school, I stopped almost completely after being put on (a benzo) but just recently started back because of the ADHD medication. It’s embarrassing and shameful.

Sometimes I don’t even know if seeing my psych is worth it and maybe I really should be locked up for good for picking myself. I constantly have sores and raw areas on my feet and fingers and I swear there aren’t enough bandaids in the world to heal myself. Thanks for your honesty and encouragement. Together, we can all beat this. Pingback: Empowerment Through Advocacy () Jennifer Eat my fingers, pick my face, and chew inside my mouth I’m 48 years old and have been doing this since I was a child and find it quite unbeliveable that there is now a name for this. How does it come about that names are made up for things that have been around so long? Elizabeth I am sooooo relieve that not only is there a name for what I do, but that I’m also not alone. Infact this brings a major relief. I do SPD (Scab Picking Disorder) and SED (Scap Eating Disorder) and have been quite embarrassed about it for quite sometime. I haven’t worn summer clothes in quite sometime and definitely don’t wear dresses for fear of people noticing the scars on my legs. Babs What a relief to read about skin picking disorder.

I only just learned about it and it was by accident. Again, I thought I was the only person around that had this problem and it has caused me much self doubt and pain. I am thinking about starting a support group in my area for people like myself who have suffered so much from this disorder for many years alone. I can only suggest that others also reach out for support because it can stop. When I read about the disorder last week, I stopped picking for the most part and now have an understanding of how to think about what I am doing. The most important statement I read was that picking was an effort to get a solution, a resolution or to get to the bottom of a problem. (That was a paraphrase) For me, getting out of my skin what I thought was causing the pimple so it would go away was what drove the daily picking. Just knowing there is such a disorder was healing. Find a support group or start one is my advice. Bless everyone. Mad My daughter seems to be going bald at the crown of her head. She has had three sores on her head (from picking) for at least six months now. Will the hair ever be able to grow back if there is scar tissue there?

I would love a reply! Thanks! 007Girl I suffer from many of these. As a child, I picked my scalp to create scabs to eat. Thankfully, I still have a full head of hair as an adult. Since childhood, I have shifted from scalp picking and scab eating, to nail biting, finger biting, and eyelash pulling. I never knew these had a name. Q I’m in my 40’s. I thought I was the only one in the world who picked at my face, something I’ve done since age 12. I still do it to relieve stress, but not as badly as when I was younger. I feel horrified that I would pick for hours, then have a face so red I couldn’t hide it under makeup and would have to take the day off from school. I’ve been through years of therapy, but it’s a stress reliever I still use and am ashamed about. Muir These are far more than just ‘conditions’ – they are prison sentences and I know because I suffered for 33 years. I am now 45 years old and can promise you can leave this behaviour behind and move on.

I seriously never thought I would and for years was searching for magic answers. I suffered from Dermatillomania from the age of 12 -45 and food disorders into my early 20s leaving me depressed with low self-esteem and unable to cope with social situations. The only thing I can say is that there is no fanfare solution but a long (for me anyway) process of self-forgiveness and understanding. Eventually my food disorder lessened and vanished and over a period of 10 years my Dermatillomania lessened and the compulsion stopped. It has taken hard work and efforts in directions I had no idea of trying or considered they would work. My advice is to face this head on and accept that you are not gross – you are a human who needs love and compassion because all of these conditions above are as painful and debilitating as any more socially beautiful illness. Talk to other sufferers and don’t be scared to give this a name and work to the day when you are proud to say that you beat it. Just take one day at a time, find good things to immerse yourself in and don’t beat yourself up. Be positive!

I found my intense knowledge of the human face (from staring and picking at it for hours every day) gave me a great insight into portrait sculpture and from that I’ve found a new hobby that is both absorbing and calming. Stay strong! x Prison sentence…that phrase is so right Share I suffer from trichotemnomania .i have been cutting for 20 plus years. I am so tired of this behavior . I have tired everything to stop or control the behaviors including percribed drugs ,therapy talk and behavioral ,vitamins I have even hide my hair with extensions which temporally helped but I began not being able to be without and ended up with bald and damaged hair that doesn’t seem to be getting better.i am praying desperately that something is out there to help . Victoria I have like all of these… I never thought any of my habits were so popular or even had names. I’ve recently started chewing and sucking on my fingers. I guess I need some serious therapy. Who knew I had so many issues. I suddenly feel like I don’t know myself. 🙁 I am weirded out by all the stuff that’s wrong with me.I’m freaking out.I’m gonna get a doctor cause this is crazy.

DisTressed I’m also a hair cutter, skin picker, eyebrow rubber/puller, weight focused. It’s exhausting, all of it. I’ve had times of remission where i’ve let my hair grow long. the past 3 yrs i’ve been in a buzz cut cycle that i’m sick to death of so i’m wearing a beanie trying to keep it covered hoping it will grow that way. we have no mirrors in our home. i’m 44 and my skin is red and scabby and hurts. I don’t know how my husband can stand me!!!! Broken chocolate I never thought of it like that; so very exhausting. But your right. Your lime my age & I have a 13 year old. No husband but a boyfriend & I don’t know how he stands me either. I feel so gross. I flinch when he touches my back. Maybe by now you have gotten help? If so please let me know, if not ill tell you what my psychiatrist says next week. Good luck kwlovesyou97 Wow I used to think that I was the only one who does these things. I’m so glad I’m not alone.

I am getting tired of the pain of my lip trying to heal itself…… ‘ Amanda Hansch Im 22 almost 23 years old still feel like a freak and weirdo. I have been picking for 5 maybe 6 years things have gotten bad the last year and im begining to wonder if being a new mom to a 1 year old could be a trigger.. even writing im a picker makes me tear up in shame. I read an artical last night about a girl who did the same thing and ended up picking through her skull to her brain… Scared the shit out of me. Im a little happy i started reading tho i have almost made it a full 24 hours without picking. Scanned a few times but not picked. My left side of my neck hurts into my ear and temple where my sores are the deepest. Lymph nodes are swollen throat hurts runny nose. I am so scared. I honestly didnt even realize how bad i was about it till my bf started reading me blogs on others just like me. All i could do was pull the covers over my face and cried hard for a long time. I still cant look at pictures of other scores and its weird the thought makes me cring… Why!!!

Why have i done this to my self…. My nails are even sore. I have never writen anything like this and never thought i would do this to my self. I am terrified my emotions are all over the place. I cant eat or sleep and i keep sweating. I understand i am not alone but i still feel alone. Even tho my bf is showing he wants to help im so ashamedand and embarrassed. I have saved a few scalp picking website on my phone and have opened and read blogs as a distraction from the urge to pick. I want to stop i have to!!! Rebecca I’ve always picked and bitten dead skin especially around my nails and thumbs. I never realized how bad it actually was until people kept asking me what was wrong with my hands. I always do it when I’m stressed or whatever so I don’t even notice when I’m bleeding or have started to pick off live skin. I have tried to stop but just started biting my lips instead and sometimes it’s so bad I wake up with my lips literally glued together with blood. I had NO idea there was a name for it or that it was a disorder. This has been so helpful thank you.

🙂 Becca I’ve been a nail biter, skin picker (fingers, lip and inside of my cheeks) for as long as I can remember. it really started I believe around the time my parents got divorce. I was 3 or 4 at the time. it’s hard to believe I was only that little, but my mom and grandma used to tell me to quit chewing my fingers all the time. it got to the point where my grandma was literally bribing me to stop. she’d pay me a dollar for every nail I could grow past my fingers. unfortunately I never made a dollar from her because I couldn’t stop. when she passed away in 2005, I quit chewing on my nails as bad but moved instead to the skin around my fingers. from there it turned into lip picking and cheek biting. I’ve been biting my fingers to the point where they bleed and I’ll pick my lip raw to the point where they crack and bleed. I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder since I was 15 and on my 18th birthday I was diagnosed as bipolar. the most embarrasing part of all this is I don’t dispose of the skin in the trash.. I eat it.

all of it. and I’ll sit and eat my skin for hours. I have multiple scars and calluses on my fingers and I have calluses on the inside of my cheeks. I’ve always been ashamed to share my story, but maybe it’ll find someone who can help me. cause I know it isn’t good for me and I need to show my daughter that it’s a dirty habit to start and even harder to stop. Marie Whitley My husband used to be a cutter. He described it like a RELEASE from the build up from internal pain. He said the pain felt good, like a release of pressure. Which is NOT true for everyone. His sister decided to try it, and she said it just freaking HURT! While I obviously don’t make light of cutting…that cracked me up! What a dumbass!!!😆 For those people feeling this way, it’s more common than you think. And it REALLY helps to talk to someone. Michelle Reading all your stories makes me feel better about myself that I’m not alone in this. I know it’s a bad thing to do and I hate myself for it afterwards, but I can’t seem to stop either.

Reading the descriptions of the disorders and the behavior while doing it all hits home for me. I’ve bit my nails as far back as I can remember, I also picked my scabs and have lots of old scars from them. I still pick at my face, bite my nails and “groom” my scalp and skin for imperfections. I’m not fully aware of when I’m doing it – the damage I’m causing because I do go into that trance like state that’s mentioned…almost like I’m zoned out and drugged, then I snap out of it and 2-3 hours have passed of me just standing in front of a mirror. My nails and skin around them right now look like someone shredded them. I hate it. I remember going out to eat with friends and hiding my fingers every time I could. This has plagued me since I was really little. I’m also OCD about certain things, I have to have 3 paper towels when drying my hands, wash my hair twice, I have to touch the lock to know the door is locked even if I see it’s locked.

After reading all this and realizing the sick feeling I get with the aftermath of my skin and nails, I think I need to see a doctor and explain what all this is. Maybe I need some kind of therapy or medication. I’ve also become plagued with an obsession with food, an unhealthy relationship with it. It really got worse after my divorce a few years ago. Like if I buy cookie dough and make 30 cookies, I’ll sit there and eat them all…I can finish off a large pizza. I’m not a big girl but my weight has climbed and it’s miserable being this way. I then punish myself or feel ashamed, I’ve done extreme dieting, starved myself then later on, I binge. I’ve only made myself throw up once (when I was drunk over 10 years ago) just to see if I could. I don’t know what’s triggered all this. I know I’ve always been the shy, quiet loner and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more of a hermit than ever before. I just want this all under control. Just turned 36, it would be nice to truly be ok for once in my life. Ashley Hills I can relate to you on so many levels.

I’m 33 and have only realized this year that my anxiety was linked to my compulsive grooming habits. Have you found any relief? Michelle So I’ve noticed that since I started dating again, a lot of this has gone away. Not sure if it’s the stress going down or maybe I’m more aware when I’m doing it now. I stopped biting my nails completely and now have long nails. I don’t pick at my skin anymore…an occasional pimple or scratch here and there. Not sure…maybe when I’m too alone or my self esteem is in the gutter, it triggers me to be worse. Guess I’m relating happiness to not picking. It’s a major improvement Jenn Bowman I read something once that theorized these behaviors could have something to do with levels of dopamine, which also explains a meth-users extreme picking. Interesting theory because I noticed sometimes I pick after an orgasm. I’m the opposite of stressed. I’m zoned out and flooded with dopamine. This theory of course doesn’t explain all behaviors though it is likely one explanation of several for why we do this. Jenn Bowman I can also relate to the binge eating.

We can help and support each other; support groups are a big part of overcoming these disorders I know, too. Angel Fish Could anyone relate to me? I complusively scratch at myself and eat the skin that scrapes off… I’ve never once admitted to this in years to anyone and am just looking for someone who can help me stop. Exponent Shark I can relate, and I can try to help. Email me: exponentshark@gmail.com Mr Ree I too pick at my cuticles sometimes they bleed. I pick my lip cause I feel dried skin on lips, past 20 years shave body hair off I see it and to me feels likev I’m dirty, I pick my eyebrows out leaving bare spots Shan I scratch until I bleed, then pick the sores for months! The more infected they become, the better I feel. The pain feels good, unfortunately. All my life I’ve bitten my nails and lightly picked sores, but never caused them. I started having no control over my picking after my dad died. I began scratching myself to cause wounds, horrible sores! I enjoy eating the scabs (so sick!) I even love to look at all the terrible scars I’ve made!

When people ask about them, I tell them they were caused by accidents, cat scratches, etc. People believe me (especially my family) because I am a klutz! This all took on a life of its own when my father became ill with cancer. He suffered from cancer for 4 years, then died at home in Hospice. I was in charge of giving him his medications. I feel really guilty that part of me was ready for him to pass on the last months of his life. He was so very ill that he just wasn’t my dad any more. He was suffering so very much! The night he died Hospice gave me a new medication to give him to help ease his coughing. He was also taking morphine. I was told to give him both medications, so I did. It was very hard to make sure the dose was exact, as the drugs were administered with an eye dropper. He passed away that night. What if I screwed up and killed him? I didn’t mean to-or want to-but I can’t get past this horrible guilt! I finally admitted this to my doctor and my mom. They tell me it wasn’t in any way my fault, but I can’t forgive myself!!

My doctor upped my medication for anxiety, but it’s just not helping enough. I’m not as depressed or fixated on my dad’s death, but I just feel blah, no joy for life. I’m very able to shove those feelings into a dark part of my brain while I’m around others-nobody suspects a thing. I’m cheerful and friendly- and faking it BIG time! I am definitely NOT suicidal, thank the Lord. I just want to crawl into a dark cave and pull in a stone behind me to hide from the world. I’m so glad I’ve finally found others who understand this horror! So, here’s my biggest question, now that I have discovered that this is a mental illness even worse than anxiety,do any of you save your blood? Since my dad’s death, I wipe mine on a pillow case (really gross, huh?). I have to add to my disgusting “collection” every night. I have to touch it and smell it because it relaxes me! One of my favorite sweaters got blood on it from one scratch. I have to wear it at home, and I can’t bear to wash it. It has an icky smell, and I crave that too.

I feel as if I have gone off the deep end here into the weirdness pool! My doctor recommended that I see a psychologist, but she is booked up for 6 more weeks. Part of me is relieved, as I HATE talking about this with “normal” people. I don’t know if I can tell her about the pillowcase, the bloody sweater, and my other strange addictions. I don’t know if I am prepared to give them up! I could really use some advice from all of you and some moral support. This is SO HARD! It’s taken over my life! Sarah Hey, Shan. I hope you get this reply. I just came across this discussion after I picked and scratched my scalp, back, shoulders, chest, and face completely raw all the while, ingesting the bits I picked. I always feel so disgusting and gross. I try my best to hide it from others. Although my symptoms are not as severe as yours they have gotten to the point of obsession, much like you described. I find that I’m so busy and distracted that I don’t do it as much as I probably could if I were by myself and succumed to lonely moments but when I am alone and bored, I cause serious damage.

It sounds to me like you have a lot of deep seeded guilt that you may not quite understand or even question but it comes out in your obsessive behavior. I know I have awful issues with self esteem. I’m even better at hiding them. The psychologist may be booked for awhile but book that now and then maybe ask your doc for another recommendation in the meantime? I know it always helps to talk to someone. I’m in denial of how bad this gets so I choose to do my own therapy exercises. I ordered myself a chewy tube for the biting and eating part and I will at times play with a fidgit toy or wrap and unwrap my fingers with a rubber band. And sometimes I journal everything I’m doing or want to do when I’m feeling tense or bored. I feel like if I write down what I’m doing to my skin I’ll make myself more aware of the damage I’m inflicting. OCD comes in many forms and its so hard to break yourself from routine. Hannah Burkle It’s so great to know how many other people struggle with this. I thought it was just a gross habit that my friends make fun of me for.

I found out this was a thing when I watched a video I saw on Facebook by refinery 29 “I have an anxiety condition that forces me to uncontrollably Pick at my skin” it’s a great video and everyone should watch it. I have bitten my nails for as long as I can remember, I think it really started because my mom would pick at nail polish in her beautiful perfect long nails when I was young and it gradully got worse as I grew older. I have extreme ADD and anxiety so especially when I’m trying to get things done I get distracted by my nails and I’ll find tweezers or nail clippers to pick something off of them to the point of bleeding and a ton of pain which then grows to scans which I also pick at a lot now too. I’ll even be in a two hour class picking and biting and not hear a word that a professor is saying to me. I’m a super clean freak and I know your hands touch just about everything but I still can’t stop. I also get sick a lot and I’m sure that has to do a lot with having my fingers in my mouth constantly, even though yes j do wash my hands quite often.

Ive tried “no bite” nail Polish on my nails and just about everything else but nothing helps. It’s good to put a name to a face if you will with what is wrong with me I always just thought it was a nervous habit. I’m glad that there is a community who also struggles with this that I can relate to! Anyone wants to talk just chat me up cuz I know it’s good to have a friend who’s in the same boat! dwsrqeiqefewb 20 bad habits you need to quit now - Times of India Times of India 20 bad habits you need to quit now Renita Tisha Pinto Satisfying late night cravings with pizzas and chocolate cake might be a tempting way to end each day, but it's not doing your body any favours. | Health Me Up | Updated: Apr 13, 2015, 11.38 AM IST 20 bad habits you need to quit now (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images) Satisfying late night cravings with pizzas and chocolate cake might be a tempting way to end each day, but it's not doing your body any favours. It can impact you and your overall health on a long term basis.

Unintentionally, at times we end up hurting our body and our health on a daily basis due to our habits. Today, Dr. Vihang Vahia - Psychiatrist at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, lists out the top 20 bad habits that you need to quit today. If you have any of these habits, then it's never too late. Reverse these habits and start enjoying a healthy and happy life today Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 1: Nose/mouth picking This annoying and silly habit of 'digging gold' is one of the worst habits that goes un-questioned. This habit is not only bad for your health but it is also against common social etiquette. Picking your nose can spread various infections like cold and flu, as cold virus is passed into your body through the mucus. After touching several things and then taking the same finger into your nose, you will land at the doctor's clinic. Hence, stop this awkward habit of pulling sticky substance from your nose, or fetching left over food strands from your mouth. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 2: Binge drinking Binge drinking, causes many deaths and hospitalisation all over the world says - Dr.

Vihang. Binge drinking causes long term health problems like liver trouble and immediate problems like weight gain, dizziness and fatigue. To save yourself from such damage, the key is limitation. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 3: You became an 'Owl' at night Many of us, burn the midnight oil for exam preparations and work. But if this becomes routine, you will damage your body in the long run. Without 6-8 hours of good sleep, you are damaging your immune system and other body processes and systems. Due to lack of sleep, your immune system becomes weak and thus produces fewer 'germ fighters' - lowering your tolerance for withstanding common bugs in your environment. To fight against various diseases, it is necessary to at least get a minimum of 7-8 hours of good sleep on most nights of the week. A good night's sleep also helps you stay awake and fresh throughout the day. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 4: I am so 'lonely' Dr. Vahia says - the key for good health is a healthy and fresh mind. If your mind is unhealthy, it will affect your immune system and put you at several health risks.

If you spend most of your time obssessing over your loneliness, and any other social challenges, or whatever could cause feelings of despair and frustration, then you are harming your mental health , detaching yourself from people, and stressing your mind and body. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 5: Wearing headphones for long hours Headphones or earphones are the sole companions for some of us throughout the day. We listen to music to pass time, while travelling or while working out. But, if you have plugged in for hours, with no breaks, then you need to keep this habit under check. Dr. Vihang says - listening to loud music via earphones, can cause hearing loss. He further adds - headphones aren't the culprits, it is the volume and the hours that can land you in trouble. Besides, ignoring minor symptoms of hearing loss is also one of the biggest criminals. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 6: TV trouble Sitting for hours on the couch, watching that idiot box can put your heart and eyes at risk. Watching too much TV can put you at an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and obesity.

The more you are glued to the TV, the more immobile life will affect your levels of fat and sugar in your blood. Besides, it also strains your eyes and causes damage to the refractive lens. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 7: Wearing heels Women who wear heels on a daily basis, do lots of harm to their bodies. Dr. Tina Mahendraker - Physiotherapist , Mumbai says - high heels can affect your posture, put pressure on joints - which can cause arthritis , back pain and tendon injuries and other heels related accidents. Thus to prevent such horrible effects on your health Dr. Tina says - limit your heels to not more than 1.5 inches, and wear insoles to reduce the pressure on your joints. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 8: Carrying an extra heavy bag We love to carry our world wherever we go, because we can't afford to miss a single thing. This habit of hauling the world with our (lots and lots of) worldly things on the back or shoulder causes lots of harm to our health. Carrying heavy bags can cause various long term effects like serious back pain, neck pain and poor posture - says Dr. Tina.

Hence, to avoid ageing your body prematurely, do yourself a favour and empty that bag. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 9: Sleeping with Makeup Many girls have a habit of sleeping with their makeup still on. Whatever the reason could be, this habit can cause grave damage to your skin. Sleeping with your makeup on, leads to clogged pores, congested skin and spots. Besides, mascara and other eye makeup can cause irritation, which can also lead to vision loss. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 10: Snacking, even if not hungry If you disrupt your regular eating pattern, then your body will no longer send hunger signals and you may end up eating even when you are full. This extra eating can flood your body with extra calories and unhealthy ingredients, which can further cause serious chronic health problems like diabetes , heart problems and acidity. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 11: Can't live without a smoke In every health tip, behind every cigarette pack, we read this,' Smoking kills', but people still persist with the smoking habit. Dr.

Sunesara says - smoking even a single cigarette a day, can cause blood clots, which may prevent swift flow of the blood and hence develop plaque in your arteries and blood vessels. Besides, you may also damage the life of the non-smoker who is living with you. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 12: Lying constantly Surprised to see this one on a healthy living post? Those minute white lies can cause serious damage to your health. If you lie constantly, you will have constant fear of the truth being disclosed, this will create a feeling of stress in you, says - Dr. Vihang. Stress, is the worst thing for your body, as it damages your heath due to the release of stress hormones. Besides, it further leads to headaches and anxiety. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 13: You live on medicines If you pop a pill for regular headaches, menstrual cramps or normal tummy trouble then you need to stop now. Constant pill popping is an extremely harmful habit that will put your health at stake. Dr. Sunesara says - if you are eating a balanced nutritious diet then you don't need extra nutrients.

If the intake of any nutrient increases, it may create severe side effects. Hence, always check with your doctor, before popping any pill. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 14: Skipping breakfast Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - says Ms. Eileen - Nutritionist, Mumbai. If your entire breakfast comprises one cup of rushed coffee and a toast, then you're setting yourself up for an unhealthy future. This will affect your digestive system. Besides, it will also harm your energy reserves and negatively affect your metabolism. If you skip your breakfast, you are likely to eat more during the other meals and this can lead to weight gain. Eileen says - the key to a good breakfast is a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 15: You are in love with junk food Fast food is rich in trans fat, sugar, spices and artificial preservatives. But a life dependent on constant fast food will add to your waistline and cause serious health problems like high cholesterol , diabetes and heart problems in the long run.

As fast food is rich in bad fat, it raises the bad cholesterol in the body and leads to the hardening of the arteries, which can further cause plaque deposits. Hence, switch to a healthy diet and protect yourself from weight gain and other serious health problems. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 16: Nail biting This habit of using your teeth to cut your nails, just for time pass or due to extreme nervousness, can cause germ entry into your body. Dr. Sunsesara says - your hands are constant travellers, they pick several things throughout the day, and then taking these nasty, germ-filled fingers into your mouth can make you bed-ridden for days, due to cold or flu. So, stop this dirty habit right away. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 17: Ignoring sex Whatever the reason for a low libido might be, whether too much work or stress, avoiding sex altogether for many days and months at a time is not good. Sex is good for you and your health. It helps to improve your immune system and relationship. But if you are not interested in this pleasurable act, then you need to talk to your doctor immediately.

Because, a low libido can be beyond stress, it can be caused due to an under active thyroid, hypertension or simply a hormonal imbalance. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 18: Fast eating Eating at lightning speed due to work pressure or lack of time can adversely affect your digestive system. You should take at least 20 minutes to finish each meal. If you just gulp your food, without chewing it properly, it can cause acidity, bloating and excess gas in your stomach. Hence, slow down and enjoy your food. Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 19: Being in an unhealthy relationship for a long time If you are in a relationship wherein you don't manage to get your share of joy and happiness, then it's better to leave the knot at that moment itself. If you have been suffering an unhealthy relationship for a long time, i.e., a relationship that is abusive verbally or physically, or encourages you to participate in unhealthy actiities, then you're harming your health. An unhealthy relationship causes stress and this further lowers your blood pressure, immunity and digestive system.

Bad habit to quit for a healthy living # 20: Picking at your skin If there is some flaw on your face, you must resist yourself from constantly stressing on it. If you constantly keep worrying about acne by touching it, it will act up more. Besides it will lead to scars and inflammation. Hence, stop picking at your face to avoid worsening skin issues. Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device. RELATED

Question: Rhinotillexomania is the medical name of which bad habit
Answer: Picking one's nose