A repeated action used to alleviate stress, such as a cough, biting the nails, or pulling the hair.
An informal expression used to describe a small, repetitive action or behavior. A nervous habit can involve involuntary movements like twitches and facial tics, seen in conditions like Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome and certain types of dyskinesia. Deliberate nervous habits, such as nail-biting and thumb-sucking, are typical in young children but generally fade away as they grow. These habits intensify during periods of stress or anxiety and can be pronounced in specific cases of depression, anxiety disorders, or when someone is withdrawing from drugs.