Why didn't you keep on with the acrylic nails?
I have also been a nail biter all my life (in early sixties now -so didn't think I'd ever stop) but my son got married last summer. A few weeks before, I enquired about false nails and the girl said I just about had enough of my own nails but if I could stop biting them for the next few weeks, it would be better. I did try and then had the false nails on, hoping they would stay on for the weekend as the wedding was abroad. It was about 3 weeks before I lost one, had it replaced and just kept going, having different coloured gels, and all the time my own nails were growing away. It took 2 or 3 months and I didn't need the false ones and I received such compliments on them, that I haven't been tempted to bite them again. Sometimes I have artwork done and it still gives me a thrill to see 'my nails'.
Try the false ones again and keep going until your own have grown. You'll be so proud, you won't want to bite them.