Skin picking, hair pulling, cheek or nail biting...What are BFRBs and how are they treated?
So what are bfrbs?
Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) encompass a range of repetitive self-grooming actions, such as biting, pulling, picking, or scraping one's own hair, skin, lips, cheeks, or nails. These behaviors can result in physical harm to the body and often result in numerous attempts to cease or reduce the behavior.
According to research, the triggers for BFRBs can stem from the desire to enhance or fix perceived flaws in one's physical appearance, as well as using these behaviors as a means of regulating intense emotions. It's estimated 3% of people have BFRBs.
BFRBs can be done in a purposeful way ("focused") or in an automatic or unconscious way ("unfocused").
How can therapy help?
In therapy, individuals can learn how to identify patterns and triggers in their BFRB, and implement emotional regulation strategies which allow them to recognize distress and negative emotions without acting on them.
Therapy for BFRBs includes different aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and the use of Comprehensive Behavioral Treatment (COMb).
what can i learn in therapy?
- Understand & modify connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions,
- Identify and increase awareness of triggers and early signs of BFRB and implement healthier replacements
- Integrate mindfulness, emotion regulation, & distress tolerance to help manage BFRBs by developing healthy coping mechanisms and fostering emotional resilience, helping to navigate negative emotions without resorting to harmful behaviors.
some pretty cool stuff, right??
For more on BFRBs: https://www.bfrb.org/
If you are interested in learning more or want to schedule a free 15 minute phone consult, reach out to us today!
