A person’s body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB), is when they compulsively engage in body-focused behaviors such as skin picking and cheek chewing, hair pulling, or similar. Compulsive behaviors such as these are focused on the body such as skin picking or nail biting, are called BFRBs. The same behavior is repeated over and over again, even if it causes injury or pain.

People with BFRBs don’t engage in these behaviors because they are concerned about their appearance. The behavior can be considered a habit, which can feel either unconscious or compulsory. Most people use the habit to alleviate anxiety and tension. People who struggle to quit BFRBs may be diagnosed with BFRB disorder. This is a separate mental health diagnosis. It is classified under “Other obsessive-compulsive disorders” by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

These behaviors can be milder and are not indicative of a mental disorder. When they are anxious, many people resort to BFRBs. A person might bite their nails as they wait to deliver a speech, or twist their hair while anxious at the doctor’s clinic.

Some BFRBs examples include:

• Nail biting
• Nose picking
• Skin picking: pulling on scabs, popping pimples
• Taking out hair from the head, body, eyebrows, eyelashes, and forehead
• Chew the inside of your cheeks or the tongue.
• Chewing or biting the skin

The DSM-5-TR gives some of these compulsive behavior clinical names. These include trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and excoriation disorder (compulsive skin picking). However, BFRBs are not considered medical diagnoses if they cause harm to a person’s health or life.

Treatment of BFRBs

The treatment for BFRB focuses primarily on the underlying anxiety that is causing compulsive behaviors. Talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy may be used to address anxiety and help people manage their emotions better. Take help from a “Psychologist near me” at TalktoAngel and overcome anxiety and manage your Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviour.

Remember that BFRBs can be highly individualized and so, what works for one person might not work for another. If any of these tips seem promising, stick with them for long enough to make it a habit. You can try something new for a few days, but don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work. These strategies should not be used as a substitute for professional advice if you feel that it is what you need.

Managing BFRBs

Some self-help strategies may be helpful for managing BFRB.

• Behavior blocking: is a way to reduce injury risk or make people pause before engaging in a behavior. To make it harder to bite your nails, someone might use gloves, tie up their hair to prevent pulling their hair, or wear a mouthguard to stop cheek chewing.
• A substitute for stimulation: Next, you might consider changing the habit by using a fidget cushion, pinching a stress toy, or chewing gum. You can also find hobbies that will occupy your hands.
• Identifying triggers take note of when and where the urge to perform the behavior. It may be helpful for people to keep a log of triggers that they are most likely to encounter.
• Mindfulness: Being aware of the times and places where it happens is crucial to managing BFRBs over time. Pay attention to how your body feels when you feel the urge. It may be helpful for people to think about what their bodies need and then find a way to satisfy that need. A person might choose to hug a pillow instead of picking at their skin because they are anxious.

People suffering from BFRBs may feel embarrassed or ashamed about their behavior. This can make it difficult for them to seek help from a therapist or doctor. There is support available. If the behavior is difficult to stop or interferes with your daily life, you should consider seeking treatment for BFRB. To prevent infection, a person should seek medical attention if they sustain injuries.

Therapies

Depending on the therapy used, psychotherapy can be used to treat this condition.

• Habit reversal therapy. This therapy helps you to become more aware and conscious of your behavior and activity patterns. This therapy helps you break bad habits such as skin picking by making you more aware.
• Peer support and group therapy. Individuals with BFRBs might benefit from certain types of support or group therapy.
• Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)This treatment teaches coping strategies and ways to change behavior.
• Acceptance therapy. This therapy helps people to change their behavior, such as skin picking, by accepting the negative emotions that fuel it. Mindfulness and positive coping strategies also play an important role.

You can do many things to stop your BFRB from becoming a life-threatening habit. These therapies help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and give you more control. Sometimes, medicines are also helpful. Talk to your doctor or the “Psychologist near me” to determine what may be best for you.