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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Annalisa Barbieri

Biting the skin off my fingers feels like self-harm – but I can’t stop

I feel embarrassed by the state of my hands and find myself often tucking my fingers under so people can’t see them

Since childhood I have bitten the skin off my fingers, often leaving them bloody and painful. I am in my 50s now and my poor fingers look dreadful after years of chewing.

I understand this to be a form of self-harm but it is such ingrained behaviour I seem unable to stop. I feel embarrassed by the state of my hands and find myself often tucking my fingers under so people can’t see them.

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