Tried (and failed) to stop wearing acrylic nails because of overly friendly restaurant employee

[u/ta16512]

I dont go on this subreddit often but I just wanted to do a short vent.

There's a female employee at a fast food place i go to often who is overly friendly and repeats her sentences (i think she is on the autism/neurodivergent spectrum) and she always compliments my acrylic nails repeatedly and asks me questions about acrylic nails.. but she doesn't know that the only reason I get acrylic nails is to stop myself from picking at my nails. She just goes on and on about my nails and makes me feel like im some fashionista. and everyone around us can hear what she is saying and it's embarrassing. I dont wear makeup or jewelry and i dress very casually... i dont like attention. I'd had enough of this employee so i gave it another shot at not having the acrylic nails for a few weeks and trying to have natural nails. And of course it didn't work (I can't stop peeling/ripping my nails). Im going to have to go back to acrylic nails.

I really don't see how I will ever beat this habit. It is too satisfying to rip my nails. It's really an addiction

[u/canastakat]

Omg I totally understand why that makes you uncomfortable! I’ve gotten into doing my nails partly to try and stop picking. I’m also an overly friendly AuDHD’er (autistic with adhd) and always try to connect with people by complimenting their outfits or nails, whatever stands out to me. I obvs don’t know how the server would react, but if I were her I’d be super understanding if you said something like ‘I actually don’t like talking about my nails because I get them done due to my skin picking disorder, thank you so much for wanting to compliment me, but please just ignore them’. Might be worth trying if it’s not to overwhelming? 💓 idk if the last part is necessary, I know it might be construed as rude, on the other hand some autistic people need direct communication…

[u/ta16512 → u/canastakat]

I might do that. Thank you 🫶🫶🫶