quit cutting, now can't stop chewing on lip/thumb

[Speeddemonstar]

I've always had a craving to chew on something ever since I was a baby. I chew on my left thumb, it bleeds sometimes... I also chew on my bottom lip, all the time, it bleeds almost every day... I feel like I have to always chew on something, I've tried chewing gum, but it just doesn't satify my craving to chew anymore...
I started cutting(on my arm) when I was in 3rd grade(diff reasons). I'm now about to go into 9th grade. I haven't cut my arm in about 2 months. well, back when I was cutting, gum worked to satify my craving to chew but now I have to chew on my thumb or lip. I know it sounds weird, but I like the feel of the pain.
I want to quit chewing on my lip and thumb. I've tried chewing other things, but I chew so often and so hard that everything I've tried, I go through so fast that it gets expensive...
any ideas?

[escape_thereal_world]

I use Popsicles sometimes. You can make them with any drink you desire. I know some people even make soda popsicles haha

I use kool-aid/lemonade and it's fairly cheap for me. Also ,if you don't add sugar and get the sugar free stuff, it can be fairly okay to eat on a regular basis. I generally go through 3 or so a day.

Hope this might give you some ideas!

[Speeddemonstar]

I can't do anything cold because I have sensative teeth

[Evanescent]

You could try to chew on those wax lips they have in cady stores, or the wax bottles with the juice in them that you can also get in the candy store. The wax never goes bad so you can keep it for a long time. The wax lips are also flavored.

[escape_thereal_world]

Or a bag of the pretzel sticks and suck on them :P

It sounds like anxiety, too, so maybe if you kept your hands busier doing some crafts or playing with a rubber band, etc. You may consider meds - if you want to - for anxiety for a little while to help you cope, but that will be between you and your doctor.

[Riddikulus]

Hey there,

I'm sorry you are finding things hard at the moment,
The idea of chewing those wax candy lips is a good idea, and perhaps things like sucking lollipops or boiled sweets.
It does sound like anxiety and it would be a good idea to keep your hands busy as well with things such as stres balls etc.
Feel free to PM me if you want/need to talk,

Take care,
Charli

[Speeddemonstar]

where can I get those wax bottles with juice? they don't sell them anywhere around where I live anymore...
also, I tried the pretzals/sticks, but they dry out my mouth real bad...

[Evanescent]

Originally Posted by Speeddemonstar

where can I get those wax bottles with juice? they don't sell them anywhere around where I live anymore...
also, I tried the pretzals/sticks, but they dry out my mouth real bad...

Sometimes dollar stores have them in the candy section too.

[Evanescent]

It does sound like anxiety. By the way congrats on being able to quit cutting. I hope some of our suggestions help.

[Speeddemonstar]

ordering them online, apparently they CAN'T sell them in stores are any place like that around here... don't know why, but one of my friends who owns a store said that he tried to sell them at his store, and they said he couldn't and if he tried he'd get fined... :P thank you everyone, more suggestions are welcome, as those things are expensive whereever I can find them...