From childhood onward I bit/chewed my nails (fingers & toes), up 'til about 5 yrs. ago when my teeth fell apart (for reasons of neglect). I still chew the cuticles/skin at sides of my fingers.
Anyway, now I cut them with nail clippers, which doesn't hurt. Awful part for me is the filing. Ugh ! Makes me feel so nauseous, the friction of trying to get edges of nails smooth & even. Just contemplating the prospect gives me the shivers, and not in a good way. If I don't file them, they're rough & sharp-so either way ("to file or not to file"), I'm uncomfortable. Aargh.
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*"I don't know what it is, but I know what it isn't."*