A bad habit of picking the consequences in the nose. How to get rid of the habit of picking your nose

Nose picking is a very common habit that is considered ugly and unacceptable in most (if not all) cultures. In exceptional cases, nose picking can cause serious health problems (such as infection). If you want to stop picking your nose, you need to start by clearing your nose, changing your habits, and seeing a psychologist if necessary.

Steps

Keep your nasal cavity clean

Clear your nose. Remember to blow your nose regularly to remove snot and mucus from your nose. If you have a clean nose, there won't be much need to pick at it. In addition, you can clean your nose with special aqueous or saline solutions. They are often sold in the form of nasal sprays.

Solve your allergy problem. If you have an allergy, consider how to reduce its manifestation. Talk to your doctor about using antihistamines for allergic reactions. If you have allergic reaction for a certain allergen (for example, on the fur of my mother's cat), you can buy antihistamines available without a prescription.

• Even when using over-the-counter drugs, check with your doctor beforehand.

1. Get rid of hairs. too thick and long hair in the nose contribute to the constant capture of dust and other particles in the air. For example, dust and pollen can get tangled in the hairs and leave you feeling like your nose needs to be cleaned right away. This leads to the desire to pick one's nose. Take a nose hair trimmer and trim the hairs with it.

   Wear gloves. Gloves greatly discourage the habit of picking your nose. Before you go out, put on gloves - they will be an excellent barrier that will prevent you from forgetting and accidentally starting to pick your nose. You can buy nice stylish gloves under your coat or other outfit to control this habit all the time.

   Try to get rid of provoking factors. People often start picking their nose in response to anxiety or other negative emotions. These emotions can be triggered by the environment and stressors. Pay attention to the circumstances under which you have a desire to pick your nose. If you notice any patterns, try to avoid provoking factors.

   • For example, you might find yourself picking your nose when you're standing in a long line. In this case, you should try to avoid long lines or try to keep your hands busy.

2. Reward yourself for good work. If you can overcome the urge to pick your nose, be sure to treat yourself to something. Come up with a reward system that provides rewards per day, per week, and per month (in the event that you have overcome the desire to pick your nose). Once you've completed this task, treat yourself to something.

   Be patient. It takes a lot of time and effort to change habitual behavior. Yes, most likely, a couple of times you will be mistaken. Forgive yourself and move on. Over time, you will stop picking your nose.

How to wean a child to pick his nose

Make your child wash their hands every time they pick their nose. With this method, you will not only teach your child to personal hygiene, but you can also wean him from the habit of picking his nose. If the child constantly has to interrupt the game or other interesting activity to wash his hands, next time he'll think twice before putting his fingers up to his nose. But you must strictly adhere to this rule (even in a public place).

Occupy the hands and fingers of the child. Children often pick their noses out of boredom. Make sure your child's hands are always busy with something. Drawing, coloring are great activities for this. You can even just give the child a toy when he is nervous or has to sit still. This will occupy the child's hands, and he will not pick his nose.

Contact your doctor. Perhaps this habit is a symptom of some kind of nose disease. Take your child to the pediatrician and discuss possible reasons like allergies and dehydration. If the pediatrician finds signs of any of these problems, he will advise you on how to behave in this situation.

Rhinotillexomania - the human habit of extracting dried nasal mucus from the nostrils with a finger. Moderate picking is not considered a deviation from the norm, but excessive enthusiasm for this activity may indicate a psychological or psychiatric disorder. Prolonged picking can cause nosebleeds and more serious damage.

Sergei Yesenin wrote:

On the street, a snotty boy.
The air is fried and dry.
The boy is so happy
And picks his nose.

Pick, pick, my dear,
Stick your whole finger in there
Only with this power
Don't get into your soul.

(1923)

Kozma Prutkov's poem "On the Seashore" ends like this:

And the trio jumped back,
Sweeping dew from cabbage...
The gardener stands gloomily
And digs in his nose with his finger.

Often we can observe a lightened (consciously controlled) version of picking in the nose - this is usually touching the tip of the nose with the index finger. Touching or rubbing the nose with the index finger - a sign of doubt / other varieties of this gesture - rubbing the index finger behind the ear or in front of the ear, rubbing the eyes .Often this gesture means confusion, some believe that picking your nose is a sign of low personal development and “dislike” for yourself. "Picking your nose" is also a metaphor for all sorts of meaningless and aimless pastimes.

Physiological basis

Nose performs an important physiological function in breathing and smell. Its inner surface is covered with epithelium, on the surface of which there is mucus. In addition to the olfactory receptors in the nose, there are a lot of sensitive endings. Foreign particles or dried mucus in the nose irritate sensitive receptors and cause a sneeze reflex. The body needs to keep the nasal cavity clean. In this sense, nose picking is a physiologically justified procedure.

Nose picking as a medical symptom

Nose picking by the people of Wisconsin.

According to : Jefferson J.W., Thompson T.D. "Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?"J Clin Psychiatry. 1995, 56(2): 56-59

· 8.7% say they have never picked their nose.

· 91% admitted that they were picking and picking. However, only 49.2% believe that nose picking is common among adults.

· 9.2% think they pick "more than average"

· 25.6% pick every day, 22.3% - from 2 to 5 times a day, three admitted that they pick at least once an hour.

· 55.5% pick 1-5 minutes a day, 23.5% - 5-15 minutes, 0.8% (two) - 15-30 minutes, one - 2 hours a day.

· 18% suffer from nosebleeds, and 0.8% claim to have damaged the nasal septum while picking.

· 82.8% pick to "clear Airways", 66.4% pick because it itches, 35.7% - so that the discharge does not protrude from the nostrils, 34.0% - for hygiene purposes, 17.2% - out of habit, 2.1% (five) - for pleasure, one - for "sexual stimulation".

· 65.1% pick with their index finger, 20.2% with their little finger, and 16.4% with their thumb.

· 90.3% use a handkerchief to remove discharge from the nose, 28.6% throw it on the floor, 7.6% stick it to furniture.

· 9% eat nasal discharge.

Many medical sources consider nose picking as one of the symptoms of abnormal behavior in children. In particular, this activity is considered symptom of attention disorder and hyperactivity attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; ADHD) .

Physicians distinguish between nose-picking and nose-picking associated with a psychiatric or psychological disorder. The term is often used to refer to painful picking. rhinotillexomania.

American scientists Jefferson and Thompson investigated the prevalence of the habit of picking one's nose among the population of Wisconsin. They developed a questionnaire, which they sent out by mail. The questionnaire scientifically defined nose picking as "Insertion of a finger (or other object) into the nose with the intention of removing dried nasal secretions". It turned out that about 91% of respondents pick their noses. However, only 75% of them believed that almost everyone picks their nose. One of the respondents devoted to picking 2 hours a day. Two injured their noses. Some also bit their nails (18%), pinched their skin (20%) and pulled their hair (6%). The researchers concluded that in most cases nose picking is just a habit, but in some it crosses the line of pathology.

Indian scientists Andrade and Srihari came to similar conclusions. They conducted a survey of two hundred students in city schools. Virtually every one of those interviewed admitted that he picks his nose - an average of four times a day. 17% of respondents admitted that picking their nose is a serious problem for them. In many cases, picking was accompanied by other bad habits, such as nail biting. Nose picking ended in bleeding in 25% of schoolchildren. The researchers concluded that medical epidemiologists and nasal specialists should pay serious attention to this widespread problem.

In some cases, the pathological habit of picking your nose can lead to serious damage. For example, American doctors reported a clinical case in which a 53-year-old patient who constantly picked her nose broke her nasal septum and damaged her nasal sinus.

There is also the possibility of psychological problems that may be associated with rhinotillexomania such as, obsessive-compulsive spectrum, the habit of biting your nails, pulling your hair and others.

People with rhinotillexomania cannot control their habits. This is usually a problem associated with obsessive-compulsive disorders or anxiety disorders. Such people experience great stress if they do not have the opportunity to engage in their obsessive habit. This helps to get short-term relief, but they are unable to control and discourage such behavior.

Other patients with a nose-picking habit may be driven by a tic or Tourette's syndrome. These are neurobiological disorders (with a change in the inhibition of the center of the brain). Exist special methods treatment, including certain neuroleptics and psychotherapy.

There are people who try to use a form of self-stimulation due to a lack of attention. People with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) very often get nervous and pop their noses to get relief from keeping their brain "awake".

Unverified information and hoaxes in the media

From time to time, articles appear in the press about scientists who have discovered the usefulness of picking their nose. They are often based on unverified information.

For example, referring to an article in an English newspaper Sunday Times, claim that picking your nose is useful, as this procedure stimulates brain activity. They say that American and British scientists explain the benefits by the fact that the nasal cavity contains many receptors, stimulating which you can activate various body systems. For example, picking your nose can help you fight off a cold faster.

The proponent of nose picking is reportedly French scientist Bonnier, who believes that the nasal mucosa projects to various organs in the body. Thus, according to Bonnier, almost the entire body can be influenced through the nose.

The news was widely circulated that an Austrian lung specialist, Friedrich Bischinger ( Friedrich Bischinger) claims that those who pick their noses are happy and healthy. He seems to insist that this activity should be encouraged, since the finger is an excellent tool for clearing the nose. Bishinger also advises eating the snot that has been caught, as it is good for boosting the immune system.

Most of these reports can be classified as unverified information (which means that they may be partially true) or pseudoscience.

One of the Internet sites contains information, which is a hoax, about the habit of picking the nose of great apes.

Bibliography of scientific articles

• Andrade C, Srihari BS (2001) A preliminary survey of rhinotillexomania in an adolescent sample.J Clin Psychiatry 62(6): 426-431. Preliminary assessment of rhinotellixomania in a group of adolescents.BACKGROUND: Rhinotillexomania is a recent term describing excessive nose-picking. The literature on nose-picking among the general public is sparse. METHODS: We studied nose picking in a group of 200 teenagers from 4 urban schools. RESULTS: Virtually all participants admitted to picking their noses. The median frequency of picking is 4 times per day. The frequency exceeded 20 times a day in 7.6% of the respondents. About 17% believe that the bottom has a serious problem with picking. Other habits such as nail biting, scratching, or hair pulling were also found to be quite common. Three or more habits of this kind were simultaneously present in 25% of the respondents. Several interesting observations have been made in certain categories of pickers. CONCLUSIONS: Nose picking is common among teenagers. It is often accompanied by other habits. Nose picking should be given attention by epidemiologists and nose specialists.
• Caruso RD, Sherry RG, Rosenbaum AE, Joy SE, Chang JK, Sanford DM (1997) Self-induced ethmoidectomy from rhinotillexomania.AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 18(10): 1949-1950. Self-made ethmoidectomy caused by rhinotillexomania.In a 53-year-old woman with long history excessive picking in the nose (rhinotillexomania) found a rupture of the nasal septum and damage to the ethmoid sinus.
• Fontenelle LF, Mendlowicz MV, Mussi TC, Marques C, Versiani M (2002) The man with the purple nostrils: a case of rhinotrichotillomania secondary to body dysmorphic disorder.Acta Psychiatr Scand 106(6): 464-466. A person with bluish nostrils: a case of rhinotrichotillomania associated with body dysmorphism disease.OBJECTIVE: To describe the type of self-harm associated with body dysmorphic disease. METHODOLOGY: Single case. RESULTS: We studied a person who developed the habit of pulling his hair and picking out mucus from his nasal cavity. We describe this condition with the term rhinotrichotillomania to emphasize the combination of trichotillomania and rhinotillexomania. The only motive for the patient's actions was an imaginary defect in his appearance, that is, a disease of dysmorphism. The patient was successfully treated with imipramine. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that some of the characteristics of the three diseases can be combined, leading to serious consequences. Such patients may benefit from a course of tricyclides if other drugs, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are not available.
• Jefferson JW, Thompson TD (1995) Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?J Clin Psychiatry 56(2):56-59. Rhinotillexomania: psychiatric disorder or habit?INTRODUCTION: Some of the symptoms formerly considered as bad habits are now recognized as psychiatric disorders (trichotillomania, onychopagia). We hypothesized that nose-picking is one such “habit”—a harmless activity for most adults, but a time-consuming, socially harmful or health-threatening activity (rhinotillexomania) for some.
• METHODOLOGY: We developed a questionnaire on rhinotillexomania, mailed it to 1,000 randomly selected Wisconsin adults, and asked them to respond anonymously. The returned responses were analyzed according to age, marital status, living conditions and level of education. Nose picking has been described using characteristics such as time devoted to the activity, level of annoyance, location, assessment of one's own habit and those of others, method of picking, methods of discarding product, triggers, complications and comorbid habits, and psychiatric abnormalities.
• Joubert CE (1993) Incidence of some oral-based habits among college students and their correlations with use of oral stimulants.Psychol Rep 72(3 Pt 1): 735-738.
• Mishriki YY (1999) A recalcitrant case of reflexive nose picking.Trigeminal trophic syndrome. Postgrad Med 106(3):175-176.
• Willekens D, De Cock P, Fryns JP (2000) Three young children with Smith-Magenis syndrome: their distinct, recognizable behavioral phenotype as the most important clinical symptoms. Genet Couns 11(2): 103-110.

What habit can be called bad? If you approach the answer broadly, then these are the actions that damage not only health, but also the image. From this point of view, the habit of picking your nose is really harmful: not only does it increase the risk of introducing an infection into the body, but others will have a completely unflattering opinion about a lover of publicly examining their nose. What causes an adult to pick his nose and how to overcome this tendency?

Why do people pick their nose

The habit of picking one's nose originates in childhood, when at about two years old the child begins to enthusiastically explore his "bowels". For a baby, this is one of the forms of knowing one's own body, which gradually fades away as they grow older.

In older children, nose picking can often be a sign of increased anxiety, stress, and emotional tension. In such cases, it is necessary to visit a child psychologist or neurologist, because. ordinary jerks and remarks will not help rid the child of this habit. In rare cases, nose picking is a symptom that can indicate the presence of serious neurological or psychological complications, as well as some genetic diseases.

Thus, nose picking can be:

1. physiological need. This is a desire to get rid of the discomfort caused by the presence of foreign particles in the nasal cavity: lumps of mucus, small debris and dust that have settled on the nasal mucosa during breathing (the so-called boogers). Usually such “picking” is not intrusive, and as soon as the nasal cavity is cleared, the person no longer feels the desire to climb back in with his fingers;
2. Psychological addiction. Here everything is more complicated than in the first case: a person picks his nose not because of the desire to clear it, but because of an irresistible desire. In the most severe cases, psychologists talk about rhinotillexomania. This is the name of painful aggressive picking in the nose up to bleeding or other damage to the cavity. However, very few people who like to pick their nose cross this line: most often this process remains nothing more than an unaesthetic habit;
3. A symptom of a genetic disease or psychiatric disorder. In such cases, a treatment tailored specifically to the individual patient is needed. To be fair, nose-picking in such patients is usually the least of the problems.

In cases where nose picking is an annoying habit that is not associated with genetic or psychiatric disorders, it is quite possible to cope with it on your own.

Wanting to part with a bad habit, first of all, you need to admit to yourself that you have it, and you want to get rid of it. Then analyze what makes you constantly pick your nose. Perhaps you simply have nothing to do with your hands, or this process calms you down. Or maybe you recently had a disease that provoked itching and irritation of the nasal mucosa or increased mucus production? If the latter assumption turns out to be correct, you first need to visit a specialist who will help you choose the appropriate medications and give recommendations, otherwise it will be very difficult to get rid of cravings to pick your nose.

What else should you pay attention to?

1. The place where you live and work. Dry air, especially during the heating season, dries out the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. As a result, a person experiences itching and irritation, which, as a result, causes a desire to pick one's nose. Therefore, try to ventilate the room more often and humidify the air in it, which can be done both with the help of, and simply by placing water containers. It does not have to be bulky basins or unaesthetic jars: water can be poured into original vases or decorative aquariums.
2. In the case when airing and humidifying the air do not help to avoid dryness in the nose, it is possible to irrigate the nasal cavity with special moisturizing sprays based on sea water.
3. Properly clean your nasal cavities. This should be done in the mornings and evenings, washing them with warm water. For a greater effect, you can add a little salt to the water: this will not only clean your nose more thoroughly, but also relieve swelling, strengthen capillaries, and improve blood circulation.
4. Control yourself. Whenever you realize that your finger is in your nose, immediately remove it from there. Don't let the habit turn into a reflex, or you'll soon start picking your nose in public.
5. Keep your nails short. This will significantly complicate the process of extracting mucus and other formations from the nose.
6. Keep your fingers busy with something that will both calm your nerves and distract you from a bad habit. Such activities as needlework (sewing, knitting, embroidery), music, carving, etc. will perfectly cope with this.

Nose picking is strongly associated primarily with children. However, there are a lot of adults who are subject to this habit, alas. It is possible to unlearn this activity, but it will require a certain amount of self-control and effort, as well as getting rid of any other addiction.

Video: Awkward moment with a finger in the nose in front of 30,000 spectators

The simple habit of picking one's nose can indicate a person's psychological disorder. Scientists have found that in about 75% of people picking their nose is considered a habit, in the rest of the cases it is a pathology. Where is the line between habit and pathology? What is the risk of frequent nose picking?

Nose picking has been considered a safe human habit for the time being. Scientists say that if you pick your nose a couple of times a day and devote no more than 5 minutes to “cleaning your nose”, this will not be considered a deviation from the norm, but excessive enthusiasm for this activity will be considered a sign of a psychological disorder.

American scientists Jefferson and Thompson conducted a study among the population of Wisconsin. It turned out that approximately 91% of those surveyed pick their noses. Approximately 75% admitted that they pick their nose every day, on average they devote from 1 minute to 2 hours of time for this activity. The researchers concluded that in most cases nose picking is just a habit, but in some cases it can turn into a pathology.

The term rhinotillexomania (lat. rhinotillexomania) is used specifically to refer to painful picking. Some people are so engrossed in this activity that they simply do not notice that they have unknowingly injured their nose - nosebleeds or more serious injuries that require surgery. In these cases, scientists tend to think of pathology.

Recently, the media have increasingly begun to write about the benefits of picking your nose. We can assure you that this is not entirely true. Scientists said that in the mucous membrane is a large number of receptors, the stimulation of which affects various functions of the body. Yes, this process slightly stimulates mental activity, but not as much as you think. However, it is not recommended to frequently or specifically irritate the nasal mucosa, because this activity will lead to bleeding and inflammation. This can be done, for example, in cases where you have the flu, dried mucus closes the airways and therefore you need to clean your nose to free your nostrils, but it is not at all necessary to devote 2 hours to this process (!).

In medical practice, there are cases when constant picking in the nose has led to a hole in the nasal septum. There were also cases when a man liked to pick his nose with his finger so often that he deformed his nose.

So, a little good stuff. But even moderate picking is not completely harmless. In 2006, a group of Dutch scientists found that nose picking promotes the spread of all kinds of bacteria. These bacteria can lead to a furuncle, an inflammation of the hair follicle. Think about whether you spend a little time a day “cleaning your nose”?

Imagine a toddler sucking his thumb. Or him, but picking his nose. The picture is pretty funny. And if the habit of picking one's nose is preserved in an adult? This sight is unpleasant.

If you observe yourself, as well as those around you, you will notice that many people bite their nails, scratch their heads or faces, bite their lips, etc. Do not rush to condemn such behavior, because it is not always a sign of improper upbringing. It happens that in this way our body tries to tell us about existing health problems. What does the habit of picking your nose mean?

Physiological need

The nose is an organ that is directly involved in the process of smelling and breathing. Thus, it serves to perform the most important physiological function.

The inside of the nasal sinuses is covered with epithelium, on the surface layer of which is mucus. In addition to olfactory receptors, this organ has a wide variety of sensory endings.

When a foreign object enters the nose, irritation of the mucous membrane occurs. A person begins to sneeze, which helps him get rid of harmful particles.

Thus, if the cause of nose picking is caused by the desire to get rid of a foreign object, then this action can be considered as a normal physiological need.

Sometimes it happens that the nasal mucosa dries up, small lumps form. They bring discomfort during breathing and irritate a person. To get rid of them, many involuntarily pick out these lumps of mucus or simply scratch their nose.

Psychological problem

The habit of picking one's nose for many has its roots in childhood. Psychologists say that this is how it is easier for kids to know their own body and environment. As a rule, this unaesthetic habit passes with age. Periodic nose-picking in both children and adults is not classified as a mental disorder by experts.

However, this process sometimes becomes permanent. In this case, we can talk about the presence of mental or psychological abnormalities. In medical practice, there is even a special term that describes this process. This is rhinotillexomania.

Why do children pick their noses?

The psychological causes of various compulsions at an early age are as follows:

• pressure and emotional coldness of adults;
• anxiety;
• stress;
• increased excitability and fatigue due to a violation of the daily routine.

The cause of nose picking can also be very serious pathologies. Bad habit, for example, sometimes indicates the formation of Smith-Magenis syndrome.

As for babies under two years old, they pick their nose only because there are holes where a finger is placed, and the bowels of which are full of various surprises. In other words, this process at such an early age is associated either with cognitive activity or with the desire to eliminate discomfort. The baby will not understand that this is ugly and indecent. Pulling and persuading will only cause frightened crying.

Between the ages of three and six, picking one's nose is often one of the varieties of a neurotic reaction.

Since this process always brings a certain sense of relief, the child strives to experience it without fail in order to get rid of anxiety.

Junior schoolchildren from seven to twelve years old feel independent and adults. However, often the desires of many children diverge from their capabilities. So, trying to get rid of the feeling of discomfort and not having a handkerchief in their pocket, they begin to pick their noses, believing that no one is paying attention to them. In older students, nose-picking may be an expression of the nihilism of adolescence.

How to wean children from bad habits?

First of all, you should get rid of lumps of mucus in the sinuses. The reason for their formation may be a prolonged runny nose, which requires treatment (washing and application of drops). The mucous membrane dries up even if the apartment is very hot and the humidity is low. In order to eliminate this cause, you need to ventilate the room more often, turn on humidifiers and keep the air temperature at 18-22 degrees.

Just in case, you should check if something much more serious than snot (a small toy or a button) has "settled" in the nose. In this case, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
Scolding a child for unwanted behavior is not worth it. It is best not to draw close attention to this process.

Trim your child's nails. If they are short-haired, then picking their nose is inconvenient. In addition, the child's hands should be occupied with something interesting (handicrafts, needlework, etc.). Then the nose will be left alone. Often hands reach out to him simply out of boredom.