Take that, Freud!

Let me start by saying, I have been seriously out of my blogging groove. That, and I got great summer job in April, and started school 5 long weeks ago. Maybe someday I will do a "rewind post" posting pictures of the thing I wanted to show you in May & June. For now, I am going to live in the moment instead of trying to catch up. (This was always my problem with keeping a diary too.) Besides, I talk to 90% of my audience on the phone every week.

The deal is, I am neurotic. ;) According to wikipedia (where else would I look?) "Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms.^[1] It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic." Or even more accurately, I have onycophagia.

  

Basically, I've been biting my nails since before I can remember. I only remember sucking my thumb until some time before first grade. This year I found out from my sister when exactly I started biting my nails. You'll never guess. .... First grade - conveniently the same time she was a freshman in college and started biting her nails. My conclusion? Freud would love me. I have had my finger(s) in my mouth since birth. BIRTH! I have tried to stop before, but it never lasts for more than a few weeks. Even when I've had my nails done beautifully, after a week or so I forget and find myself chewing subconsciously on the wonderful hard acrylic nails. I no longer buy the 50 pack of pens because all the soft plastic caps end up in mangled clumps. Anybody remember those rubbery bracelets that were so popular for any and ever cause? You can chew on those things forever without them showing any wear....but you'll get a sore jaw. Or so...you know... I've heard.


Since I'm not really keen on receiving some Freudian psychoanalysis, and my own Cognitive (just will yourself to stop) attempts have been futile, I'm resorting to good ole operant conditioning. As in, snap yourself with rubber band following undesired behavior.

If you can't read the label, it says "Stop undesirable licking, chewing, and biting behavior." Granted, 21-year-old women are not featured along side the err...dogs and cats. We bought this stuff for Daisy after she had consumed (note: not chewed, consumed) Echo's first 6 collars or so. Poor Echo, I hope it doesn't smell bad to dogs too. We doused is collar in Fooey on two different occasions and Daisy still chewed through them. This was an improvement from eating everything but the metal buckle and loop. The first time I used it on Echo's collar I accidently got some on my fingers and after tasting (biting) the bitter stuff was afraid to touch my face at all (touch your lips -lick your lips -yuck) for at least 24 hours.


So here goes. I've had it on my fingers all day and I've already learned some good manners.
1. Don't touch your food with your fingers.
2. Don't lick your fingers if you get food on them.
3. Don't grab your spoon by the eating part when pulling it out of your backpack.
and obviously
4. Don't put your fingers in your mouth! (This includes correcting a lipstick smudge...yech.)


I'm sorry this is SO very long, but I do intend to get back to blogging, and when my nails are long and pretty I'll post a picture!


p.s. If you did not follow the link on operant conditioning, please please go watch the YouTube clip that is attached. The end is the best part.