Thursday, March 9, 2017

nail-biting

This was the question:

So is there a way to STOP biting your nails, it's a very nasty habit and not good for your health, bad for your teeth and so much more, I know. But when I get nervous or anxiety or something kicks in I seem to bite my nails and I wanted to stop and grow my nails out. I take biotin for my nails and hair. Does anyone have this problem and no away to stop?

Anxiety can be a pretty complicated bugger to untangle, heal, and get free from. (It can be simple, quick and easy, yes...) But let's just keep this simple.


For nail-biting specifically, there might just be a trace mineral deficiency under it. Let's throw clothes-and-pencil-chewing in here too, while we're at it.

So, here's what I'd do...
Find a great liquid trace mineral supplement and it could make a huge difference. Truly, it might! Especially with children.
You might immediately find that there isn't as much pull towards that habit. The habit is still there but there's no drive behind it any more. If you don't notice a change right away, that doesn't mean it isn't helpful. Give it a month or so for your body to replenish those starving cells and see what happens.

Because honestly,

If it's deficiency-driven, no amount of therapy for anxiety will cure it.  I am a fan of therapy, don't get wrong! But if it's minerals you're lacking, your survival instincts are driving you to chew on something that might contain the missing piece. 


The anxiety feeling/reflex saying, "SOS, something is wrong!!" is likely to get triggered way more easily when physically, there IS something wrong, lol! Your cells are starving! 
Hypnotherapy/guided-imagery is another fun thing that can help a lot with anxiety-driven compulsive habits. Gotta throw it out there for those who know the habit is really deep-rooted. Sometimes it really helps to open up the subconscious and do a little reprogramming for this kind of thing.

I'm a big fan of hitting problems from all angles, especially if there isn't one clear-cut answer. It's like trying to get a stain off the wall or something. Magic eraser? Okay, if that doesn't work, let's pull everything out and attack that shmear until it's all better.
And then hide the Sharpies where the toddler can't find them.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

a new day

So many things going on in the world.
So many things going on in our communities, schools, churches, families, homes, hearts.
My hope here is to contribute
peacefulness
light
joy
hope
love.
Yeah, I'm pretty much a hippie at heart. That's how it goes when you get closer to the Creator of everything.
You start caring about people - for no reason at all other than they are just people. Fellow children of God.
You start noticing how lovable all of creation is. The trees, the birds, the air, the clouds, the sky -- I loved it all with a wonder and awe as a child. It never really left me, but it did change.
As a boring old person who has seen more than I'd like to have seen about the ugliness and brutality of humanity, that child-like wonder and awe over the "simple" things has only deepened and grown.
There's a writer in me that has been hiding for years now and needs a new place to play.
So here we go.

Feet

...because I'm a foot zoner. There are many incredible tools we can use to help our bodies, minds, and hearts heal.

Pray

...because without God we are nothing.

Love

...because that's what it's all about, really.