Hi-
I bite/chew/rip at my fingers constantly. I used to think it was due to nervous energy and anxiety but now I think it is due to general hyposensitivity. I am a healthcare professional who really needs to avoid open cuts and need ideas to stop! I find myself doing it without even noticing it...

Hi, my son is hyposensitive. He doesn't have your particular tic, but I think some of the ideas his OT has suggested to me might be useful. First, I had problems with biting my nails and cuticles into adulthood, so I identify with your sense of discomfort about this; obviously, in your case, it's more urgent. Chewing gum is one thing that helps my son with mouthing objects or biting my clothes. Xylitol gum is sugar free, and xylitol helps prevent tooth decay, as well as not having the unpleasant after-taste of other artificial sweeteners.

I also saw pencil topper chew toys for kids with issues with mouthing and chewing behaviors in a catalog. That would be something you could keep on your pen at work. Lots of people have a bad habit of chewing pencils or pens (I remember being mortified when a grocery store clerk called me on it); you probably would need to avoid people seeing you chew on it, and of course, you'd need to keep it away from any surfaces you're working with, but at least it would always be at hand.

You might also want to consider worry beads or fidget toys.

Good luck!

Maggie

Thank you, Maggie! I don't think it's the urge to chew as much as it's the need for sensation in my fingers, so the worry beads/fidget toys may be a good place to start looking

Maggie- ordered both some chew stix and fidget toys from Amazon and keeping my fingers crossed. It's like trying to quit smoking/drinking or dieting...

Hi, I'm sorry I'm just seeing this. You know, my son's biggest "problem" tic is that he wants to fondle (and pull) my hair. And I've compared it to therapists as being compulsive almost like an addiction -- I used to smoke, so the similarities really strike me. When Bobby is stressed, he'll come to me and say, "I wanna touch mommy's hair!" I hope those items help; we got Bobby a doll with long hair, and while he still likes to touch mine, it has redirected some of that energy. Good luck! Maggie

(03-07-2013, 11:07 PM)Cstegema Wrote: Maggie- ordered both some chew stix and fidget toys from Amazon and keeping my fingers crossed. It's like trying to quit smoking/drinking or dieting...