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As always, do your research to see what type would work best for you, but this is the one I have:
https://www.amazon.ca/PureGuardian-SPA50CA-Customizable-Intensity-Guardian/dp/B01MS953QF

Bandaids work for me for a short time, but I do end up picking them off.

What has primarily worked has been buying drugstore quality glue on nails IN BULK like hundreds at a time on amazon and constantly reapplying them if I bite or rip them off. Much cheaper than acrylic and more practical, too, because you can always keep a bottle of glue in your bag or pocket and fix them the second something goes wrong. The first time in 12(?) years I had long nails was because I did this consistently for months. Of course once I took them off I didn’t know how to maintain long nails and they broke and I’m back at square one, but now I know exactly what I need to do to get back.

Secondly, I am trying to replace my oral fixation with something other than my fingers and hands. Gum works, always having a drink with a straw works sometimes, and I’m searching for more! It’s really hard to retrain your brain when this becomes a mindless habit, though.

I also think that for me, even when I’m able to grow out my nails again, I will continue using fake nails because it’s so easy to have a bad day and when I bite one, I have to bite them all. Not a free solution, but definitely cheaper than acrylics and their upkeep, and not terrible for your nails.

Good luck!!

Edit: these are the type of nails I’m taking about. You buy the glue separately. And I haven’t tried this brand in particular, so shop around, but this is what i mean: each nail costs a penny and you have a bajillion backups.

Deep breath: "Hey Karen -or w.e-! Sorry I didn't reach out earlier. (hint: you don't owe anyone an explanation so don't volunteer one, IF she asks, say family matters, people don't dig deeper on those) I'm afraid this person was only doing this for a favor since I got camera issues last time, but he's not really available for more work. I will be able to take these pictures, though! What's the plan?"

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Now for the other thing, yes, you are doing what is called "catastrophizing", predicting the future, and coming up with all types of skewed thoughts that snowball. As you see one little lie can become a big pain in the ass, and your imagination ran wild inventing things that it had no evidence for. You need to realize that things happen and you need to work on killing the people-pleaser in you and learn to say "sorry, I'm afraid that won't be possible". Basically, saying no without feeling bad.

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Don't lie, nor you nor people can always get their way. Maybe she thought he could do it, all you had to say was "oh no actually he doesn't really do that and he's a busy person, he was just helping me as a one-time thing" period.

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Books to learn about CBT and Assertiveness could be useful for you. I recommend "When I say no I feel guilty" by Manuel Smith, and CBT Made Simple by Seth Gillihan , I've read both and found them useful.