Body Focused Repetitive Behavior Due to Anxiety

[amenX]

I have a way to cope with anxiety that is not much healthy. I am picking the skin on my lips and eating the insides of my cheeks, I think I'm doing this for at least 15 years but I recently started paying extra attention to it. I'm doing those "body-focused repetitive behaviors" while I'm worriedly thinking about something (money issues, past trauma etc.) I also do that while I'm extra focused on reading or studying. I stop picking my lips/eating my cheeks when I realize I'm doing it/about to do it, but I also don't want to make myself unconsciously choose another way to cope with this obsessive behavior. I want to take control over my behaviors/emotions. 

For the record I'm currently not practicing meditation or mindfully taking journals, think of me as an absolute beginner about these issues. So any kind of meaningful advice is highly appreciated.

[Nahm]

Habitual reaction veils naturally inspired action. When the reaction is noticed, go straight to no-possible-reaction...consciously breathing. In with the good shit, out with the bullshit. If that doesn’t ‘work’, this will...apply three times daily, release any ‘side effects’, with the conscious breathing. 

Enough sleep. Clean diet. Daily morning meditation. Dreamboard. Let thoughts come & go. Feeling journal. Life you dream of, effortlessly. 

Nothing is hidden. The mind begs to differ. 

For the love of God stop naming the source of you anxiety.