Since I've had teeth, I've bitten my nails. Never to the point where they would bleed, but more to keep them trim--just doing a rough job. Like with most things, I figured it was better and easier to take care of them myself.

It's been over a month now. The longest I'd gone before was about a week/week-and-a-half. Now I have to come to terms with the fact that dirt gets stuck under there and that it's hell to scrub it out, but it's way better than being embarrassed to rest my hands in the sight of others, to extend my hand without curling the fingertips slightly. I amped myself up about doing this by pairing up with a friend who was going to quit smoking, and by writing a short story about addictions. It helped me look at it from a slightly more cerebral perspective and helped me get into a third-person role facing the issue. Instead of just accepting that it was something I did, I started thinking about whether or not I liked how my nails looked, how I looked while I was biting my nails, how unsanitary it is, etc. I can think of the times I had quit for minutes, hours, days and a couple of weeks. I still don't feel totally liberated of it, but I'm not finding my fingers unconsciously rising to my teeth like they used to. It's been interesting "learning" to use a nail clipper and a file, but I'm happier feeling like a four-year-old with decent-looking hands, than a four-year-old whose fingers have been attacked by piranhas.

I also spent the past weekend without email or decent cell phone connection. I strongly recommend it to anyone who hasn't relaxed in awhile. There's little that's as wonderful as unplugging.

Just wanted to share some good news.