What are body focused repetitive behaviors?
I had bald patches on my head. Others had no eyebrows and no eyelashes.
Check out my YouTube video on trichotillomania:
https://youtu.be/bspy3Vq4a4g?si=ZRvqEt5Rx_GlJbVj
I pulled my scalp hair. Others had bloody faces from skin picking and picking nails off and cuticle picking. These are the results of Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, also known as BFRBs. They are impulse control behaviors that that cause hair loss as in Trichotillomania, damaged to the skin as in Dermatillomania or Excoriation disorder, cheek biting, fingernail and toenail picking, and anything that a person feels compelled to do that damages their bodies on the outside. It is not a habit. It is an addiction. It is not OCD. It is an impulse control disorder that people can’t control. It works on the dopamine system of the brain or that part of the brain that senses pleasure because it feels good to pull and pick and bite. For those of you that do not suffer from it, that sounds weird but it’s true. For those of you who do suffer from it, there is help. First and foremost, the shame and anger that you feel because you can’t control it, needs to be addressed. This is not your fault. Please read that again. This is not your fault. As Dr. Judith Rapport so eloquently put in her book, The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing, this is a hiccup of the brain gone wild. The shame that you feel because of how your body looks on the outside and because of the ridicule you get from others, many times your family who do not understand what this is. The anger that you feel because you can’t control this. I know because I suffered from it for 25 years. And now I dedicate my career to helping you.
What can be done? Traditional therapies or cognitive behavior therapy and habit reversal technique…which frankly don’t do much. More effective therapies include Dr. Charles Mansquito’s COMB model. Some cognitive behavior therapy along with healing the negative emotions connected to this. There has been no research however, mind body techniques such as yoga, dance, sports, tai chi, Pilates and anything that involves movement. This balances the brain and releases these stuck impulses that drive BFRBs. Also evidence based research such as clinical Emotional Freedom Techniques, an energy psychology for emotional regulation and reaching the subconscious part of the brain. Addictions cannot be treated with CBT alone. Anything reaching the subconscious part of the brain or the Theta brain wave is much more effective. Hypnosis is much more effective. Addictions are in the unconscious part of the brain.
BFRBs typically start preteen when hormones begin. BFRBs can be triggered by stress, anxiety, and trauma. If trauma is not treated, it can lead to depression, anxiety and addiction later in life. BFRBs help with emotional regulation, calm the nervous system when it is overactive, as in stress, and wake the nervous system up when it is underactive, as in boredom. Even though we do not like the result, BFRBs are serving a purpose. The goal is to find out what purpose they serve and treat the anxiety, anger, frustration and shame first. Then find out what the triggers are from past & present and treat them.
You have found an expert at Zandier Counseling. I have been helping children and adults with BFRBs since 1994. I would be honored to help you. Schedule an appointment today.
Call 412-833-1800