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How To Overcome The Habit Of Hand Biting?

Posted on Fri, 4 Apr 2014

Question: Hi. I've a bad habit of biting my left hand and to overcome the problem I started drinking more milk and eating more peanut butter few days ago.Do you think that I'll be able to overcome this negative habit by drinking mire milk and eating more peanut butter? If not what should I do to overcome this problem. I've had this negative habit for years.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Yes it can be controlled Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for choosing health care magic for posting your query. I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through. Hand biting is a very common symptom and you are not the only one having this problem. Its a part of the broader spectrum of impulse control disorder. Milk and peanut butter will not help you in this. This will require proper medical treatment. Many times this activity is done due to the underlying depression or anxiety. To resolve this depression and anxiety a person indulges in such acts of biting. I have seen many such patients in my clinic and this requires mental status examination. They improved by giving fluoxetine (20mg) and some of them improved by adding divalproex sodium (1000mg) to fluoxetine. In some patients I had to use aversion therapy by applying femite solution over the places where the person bites. Its a XXXXXXX bitter medicated solution and ones applied the effect lasts for a few days. this refrains the patient from biting his hands and over a period of time "learning " takes place and biting is stopped. Also relaxation exercises like biofeedback and jacobsons progressive muscle relaxation help in reducing the tension and impulses associated with biting. The best option would be to take all three options together. Its a neuropsychiatric condition and needs proper help. Dont blame it on yourself. This can be managed. Get hold of your psychiatrist and discuss with him these options. He will accordingly provide you a prescription. Hope I am able to answer your concerns. If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you. If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback. In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link: bit.ly/dr-srikanth-reddy Wish you good health, Kind regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (14 hours later)

Hi and thanks for your answer. When I was little I used to suckered on my thumb a lot. They even caught me sucking on my thumb during a sonogram exam when my my was pregnant on me and to get rid of this problem my pediatrician prescribed a medication for my mom to rub on my thumb and yes it worked. It made me stop ducking on my thumb but maybe it wasn't good enough? Because few years later I developed another bad habit which is picking the skin at my fingertips ( mostly my left hand fingers probably) and I saw few psychiatrists to overcome this problem but it got worse instead of getting better and as a result of taking the medications they put me on I developed another bad habit which is hitting my left hand so I decided to stop seeing psychiatrists but I might see another psychiatrist and tell them what you told me.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (11 hours later)

Brief Answer: Its a continuum. Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the follow-up information. Thumb sucking, nail biting and biting hand are all in a continuum and are all a part of the impulse control disorder. You should be doing good with the treatment. Stick to it for a longer time. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (14 hours later)

Does this disorder go away completely with the treatments that you've mentioned? Or no it just gets controlled?Do you think donating blood will help me with my depression? My blood type is o+ so I can donate blood to a lot of people. I wonder how often I'm allowed to give blood? Once a month?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (12 hours later)

Brief Answer: Regards Detailed Answer: Hello There is a 60% chance that there will be a complete recovery in your case. However there will be a 40% chance that the symptoms will only reduce partially. You have to take the treatment and leave the rest to the chance. Donating blood will not help in depression. You are o positive and only those people with O positive can receive your blood Only in exceptional circumstances other blood group people will receive your blood. You can donate blood every 3 months but it will not help your depression. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (10 hours later)

I wonder if aversion therapy is available in canada? I know what it is but I've never heard about from doctors here.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: Its not that complicated Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the follow up information. Sometimes there is a machine used for aversion therapy. But in most of the cases the machine is not required. Even applying the bitter medicine over the thumb is a type of aversion therapay. In this treatment protocol even meditation and yoga have their own benefits. Have you tried them before? They are good form of relaxation which reduces the impulses. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (19 hours later)

I was born in Iran and moved to canada when I was 13. I was very little when they applied that bitter medication to my thumb to get rid of my thumb sucking habit. I know it would make me stop biting my hand if someone applies to my hand for me. I'm not sure if it's something that I would rub on my hand myself since it's bitter. My concern is that Canadian doctors might not work with that medication. As I said before I've been through four psychiatrists and none of them ever talked about that medication with me but I know it would make me stop biting my hand if someone rubs it on my hand.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (5 hours later)

Brief Answer: It may still be available Detailed Answer: Hello The forumations name is called Femite in India. It may come by some other name on US/canada but I think it should not be a prescribed medicine as it is not medicated. It should be mostly available in the stores. Treatment of impulse control diorder is not very common and in canada where a doctor sees only 8-10 patients a day may not see an impulse control disorder for months. The medication does work and if you have problem motivating yourself to apply the medicine then you may need some psychological help as well. Motivational interviewing is a technique which the therapist uses during such issues. Otherwise if you have some family support, let them do that for you. Have you ever met a therapist for this kind of problem? They work on hypnosis and even that is very effective. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (22 hours later)

Thanks for your answer. Your profile says that you do four procedures per weak. may I ask what you're referring to by procedures? Could my medical problems including my depression have been caused by the fact that I'm my parent's first child? I have younger sister who's 15 months younger than me and she's definitely healthier than me. My mom had one or two miscarriages before she got pregnant on me ( I can't remember how many she said she had exactly but no more than two I'm pretty sure) but I'm the first child that was born to my parent's. Again my question is that whether or not the fact that I'm my parent's first child could be a contributing factor to my health problems including my depression? I'm asking because I've heard of this girl who is forty years old and has neurological disease ( I'm not sure what). And her doctors have told her that the reason that she developed this disease is that her parent's blood pH level is the same and she's her parent's first child. I don't think that my parent's blood pH level is the same cause they have never been told that but I'm their first child and sicker than my younger sister who's my only sibling so that's why I'm wondering if the fact that I'm their first child has contributed to my health problems ( impulse control disorder as you call it and etc)?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (35 hours later)

Brief Answer: No its not so Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the add on information. No. You have not developed the illness cause you are the first child of your parents. Infact none of the the psychiatric illness occur cause of being the first child. You can be assured of that. Just focus on getting proper treatment and I am sure you should be doing fine. Regarding the procedures, electro Convulsive therapy are a type of procedures that are done under anesthesia in an operation theater. I normally do around 10-12 of ECT per week. The profile does state it as four which is an old record. If you have any further queries I would be more than happy to help you with them. Regards Wish you good health Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 hours later)

Are psychiatric illnesses caused by genetics?

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer: yes Detailed Answer: Hello Genetics has a huge role to play in psychiatric illness. Environmental factors are secondary. Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (0 minute later)

May I ask how many patients you see per week? Your profile says 160 is that an old record aswell? I'm asking cause I want to compare it with the number of patients that that a psychiatrist says per week in canada. I wish I could come to India to see you cause I think that middle Eastern doctors are better than candian doctors. I wish I could come to India to see you for treatment but it would be very hard since I don't have anyone in India. I was born in Iran and have relatives there but I don't know whether or not iranian psychiatrists are better than Canadian ones.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer: You are most welcome Detailed Answer: Hello I see some 200patients in a week. I attend them from morning 9 am to 4 pm. Will be increasing my work hours further next month. For the illness that you are having canada should b still good. Your illness need frequent followups and hence its advisable to get treated locally. But if you wish you are most welcome anytime to India. Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (16 minutes later)

What about impulse control disorder? Does genetics have a huge role in it? Honestly according to my mom she overdosed on her iron pills while she was pregnant on me and when her gynaecologist found out he told her not to take anymore iron for the rest of the duration of her pregnancy on me and then when I was born in was always hungry and sucked my thumb more than any other kid my age. Do you think her overdosing her iron during her pregnancy on me might have caused so much hunger in me? I'm just trying to find out the cause.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (9 hours later)

Brief Answer: Unlikely Detailed Answer: Hello No its not likely that excess iron tablet consumption could have led to you developing this impulse control disorder. It might have caused some brain injury or some neurological deformity but probably not the impulse control disorder. It is possible that your mother or father might be also harboring some impulse control traits which have appeared in your genetic system. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (16 hours later)

not really. they don't have any of the symptoms that I have. but I'm their first child though! maybe that's why I have more health problems than my sister? she's 15 months younger than me. she's my only sibling.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (6 hours later)

Brief Answer: First child is not an issue Detailed Answer: Hello They may not have the similar symptoms but they may have some impulsive traits or its possible that even the second degree relatives may be having them. Problematic childhood may also lead to these neurotic traits. YOu being a first child should not be responsible for your illness. HOw was your childhood? Was it good or there were some psychological issues? Was your mother always there with you? Regards Dr. XXXXXXX Reddy

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (15 hours later)

Yes she was but my dad wasn't. When I was was six or seven years old because of his job he started going on missions and I started missing the time when he was with us all the time. Another time that my depression worsened was when we moved to canada. Also my mom wasn't there with me during the first two weeks of my life. I was in hospital then and they wouldn't let my mom in cause my grandma had told them not to but she visited me herself apparently. She didn't want for my mm to see me sick according to my mom.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (19 hours later)

Brief Answer: Childhood could be responsible Detailed Answer: Hello The fact that your were raised as a single parent from 6 yrs on-wards could have led to some feeling of insecurity. Childhood insecurity can lead to such impulsive habbits like thumb sucking and hand biting etc. But not to worry. You need proper treatment and your impulses have to be controlled. You should certainly do well. Have faith and start working on it. Regards Dr. Srikanth Reddy

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar