Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

OTHER BODY-FOCUSED REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS

In addition to Hair-Pulling and Skin-Picking, there are other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors that people seek therapy for. For instance:

• Nail biting (Onychophagia)
• Nose-picking (Rhinotillexomania)
• Hair cutting (Trichotemnomania)

Meanwhile, the list above is not exclusive. Therefore, if you have difficulty controlling a grooming behavior, and it causes distress as well as impairment, then you could have a BFRB. Please keep in mind that you don’t have to have a name for it. If you are struggling, you deserve support regardless.

TREATMENT

There are two primary treatments for BFRBs: the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (COMB) & Habit Reversal Training (HRT). These treatments support an individual’s unique reasons for performing their BFRB. At the same time, ComB and HRT follow a specific structure. Most people engage in their BFRB for numerous reasons and thus benefit from learning a variety of approaches in order to support themselves. One common skill taught in treatment is “urge surfing,” that is, learning to tolerate an urge. Many people also benefit from considering thinking patterns that inform their behavior. Also, given that some people do the behavior to manage emotions, treatment can focus on dealing with feelings in a healthy way. In sum, everyone’s BFRB is unique. Therefore, developing an understanding of your behavior is central to effective treatment.

Even though treatment is individualized, logging is a universal part of this therapy for BFRBs. Not only does logging support clarity about why you do the behavior, it also supports awareness. This awareness is crucial because it is the cornerstone of behavior change.