So recently I (20F) got a job at a gardening type store. I’ve been looking for a job for the longest time, and I’m not really in a place to turn one down, plus this place pays above minimum wage. The manger keeps prompting me to take off my acrylic nails. They have never said it’s not allowed or I have to remove , and there’s no policies against them. The only reason they have given me is that because there concerned I could break a nail, and convinced that I will. But they keep asking me about it so I’m taking them off currently. 
Here’s where my problem is though: Since I was a child (like 4 or 5) I’ve had a problem with ripping, bitting, and picking at my nails until their is barely anything there. This isn’t just a “bad habit” or anything of that nature it’s a genuine problem. I’m not sure why, but I think it stems from my anxiety. It’s not easy to stop, I’ll bite and pick at them subconsciously as well, and I can’t rest until I’ve taken off as much as possible. Even as a kid there was many times I would take off my whole nail. I don’t enjoy it, and I understand how disturbing it sounds, but it’s the truth. 
I’ve tried everything from that special bitter tasting nail polish to lemon juice, the only thing that has ever stopped me from it is my acrylic nails. The current set I have is definitely over grown and too long, and I wouldn’t be having them at this length. I talked to another girl about it and she said she used to have acrylics like mine and she never got in trouble for them, and told me that if I shorten them I should be fine. There’s also a girl in customer service with them too. I’ve thought about trying to explain my problem to my manager. But one, it’s not easy for me to talk about, I’m genuinely ashamed and embarrassed about this problem. Two, I’m also scared she’s either not going to understand how bad the issue really is, judge me, or just think I’m making up excuses. 
I’ve already taken two off and, have started biting and picking at them. I’m extremely anxious and on the verge of tears, because I genuinely don’t want to fall back into this behaviour again. 
I’m not sure what I should do in this situation, and was hoping someone could offer some advice. TIA.