Zachary_Kurtz comments on Antagonizing Opioid Receptors for (Prevention of) Fun and Profit - Less Wrong

35 Post author: Yvain 05 May 2010 02:40PM

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Comment author: Zachary_Kurtz 05 May 2010 02:57:57PM 2 points [-]

This method sounds like it could be useful for unconscious habits. I have a bad one of gnawing on my finger nails. By the time I realize I'm doing it, however, the damage has been done. For whatever reason, I think my brain has connected nail biting with stress release. Taking away that association without having to rely on my poor willpower would be nice.

Comment author: kdorian 06 May 2010 03:46:51PM 4 points [-]

Magnesium & Calcium supplements are cheaper still - nail biting can be a symptom of a deficency in one or both. And one advantage of suppliments is that you should know pretty quickly if that's the cause or not; in the admittedly few people I know who tried suppliments it either significantly reduced nail biting within a week or it never helped at all.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 07 May 2010 12:01:06AM 0 points [-]

It can be really hard to tell whether a problem is more mind-like or more body-like.

Comment author: kdorian 19 February 2012 01:14:57AM 0 points [-]

Absolutely true. I test as I can, as difficult as that can be with a sample size of 1. But the magnesium/calcium supplement combo reliably stopped and restarted my nail-biting through three rounds of taking/not taking the supplements, which is as good a track record as I require. When I started testing my supplements I was not surprised to learn that several that had initially seemed beneficial didn't provide any sustained benefit.

Comment author: saturn 05 May 2010 10:18:27PM 4 points [-]

In case you haven't already tried it, denatonium would be much cheaper and less risky for your liver.