Most of you experience urges when trying to break a habit and these can be hard to resist unless you find something else to do instead, and best of all, something that uses the same part of the body ― even the same muscles. ① If the habit involves your hands, as when pulling out hair, then try to occupy them in some other way. ② Playing with a toy or opening and closing your fists for a couple of minutes might be an answer. ③ The habit of scratching can be replaced with rubbing in some lotion or patting with the palm of the hand. ④ If the itches, however, do not disappear, stop scratching and take the medicine. ⑤ One 35-year-old woman who used to rub her eyes with her hands until they became sore and infected found it helpful to put on make-up when she was tempted to rub.

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