What are Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours?
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours (BFRBs) are compulsive grooming actions such as hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking (excoriation disorder), and nail biting (onychophagia). These behaviours can lead to physical harm, including unhealed wounds, bleeding nails and bald patches. BFRBs are part of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders and affect around 3% of the population, including children and adults.
People with BFRBs often feel a sense of tension or anxiety before engaging in these behaviours. This tension is temporarily relieved by the behaviour, which makes it difficult to stop, even after multiple attempts.
The impact of BFRBs can vary. For some, it might be occasional nail biting, while for others, severe hair pulling or skin picking can cause significant physical and emotional distress. This can lead to infections, scarring and avoidance of social activities, affecting your overall quality of life.
There are several effective treatments available. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), particularly habit-reversal therapy, can help manage BFRBs. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or clomipramine, commonly prescribed in the UK, may also help reduce the frequency and intensity of these behaviours.
If you’re struggling with BFRBs, seeking treatment is an important step toward improving your quality of life. With the right support, you can regain control over these behaviours. Remember, you’re not alone and help is available.
1 in 20 people have a BFRB in the UK
Around 30% of people bite their nails
Hair pulling disorder usually begins in late childhood/early puberty, and occurs equally in boys and girls
By adulthood, 80-90% of reported BFRB cases are women
What causes Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours?
BFRBs often begin in childhood or adolescence and can continue into adulthood if not addressed. These behaviours are influenced by a mix of genetic, psychological and environmental factors. Understanding these causes can help you seek the right support.
BFRBs can run in families, suggesting that some people may be genetically predisposed to these behaviours.
Stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and perfectionism are common triggers. Many people use BFRBs as a way to cope with difficult emotions or stressful situations.
Major life events and societal pressures can also contribute to the development and persistence of BFRBs. Even animals display similar behaviours, like over-grooming in primates, which hints at an instinctive element that makes these habits challenging to overcome.
The impact of living with Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours
Living with BFRBs can be tough, affecting many aspects of your life. Whether you’re aware of your actions or they happen automatically, the struggle is real. These behaviours may temporarily ease feelings of tension or anxiety, but they often lead to significant emotional and physical harm. Recognising the emotional and physical effects of BFRBs is a crucial step toward finding the right treatment and support.
Physical Effects
BFRBs can cause scarring, infections, bald patches and damage to nails, leading to feelings of shame and embarrassment. You might find yourself hiding these behaviours from others, avoiding judgement.
Emotional Impact
BFRBs can create a sense of isolation, as you may avoid social situations or feel disconnected from friends and family. These behaviours can also interfere with work or school, affecting your performance and enjoyment of life.
How can they be managed?
Managing BFRBs can be challenging, but with the right strategies and support, improvement is possible.
Identify Triggers
Recognising what triggers your behaviours is essential. Keeping a journal to track your habits and emotional responses can help you understand when and why BFRBs occur.
Find Alternatives
Keeping your hands occupied with stress balls, fidget toys or textured items can be a satisfying substitute for these repetitive behaviours.
Use Temporary Measures
Wearing gloves or applying plasters can help prevent damage while you work on developing new habits.
Social Support
Family and friends can play a key role by gently reminding you to be mindful of your behaviours and encouraging alternative activities. Positive reinforcement, rather than criticism, can make a big difference.
Treat Underlying Conditions
Addressing mental health issues like anxiety and depression can reduce the urge to engage in BFRBs. Psychotherapy can help reframe anxious thoughts and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Seeking Professional Help
If BFRBs are affecting your daily life, it’s important to talk to a GP or a mental health professional. With the right help, you can manage these behaviours and improve your quality of life.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy to stop biting nails, skin picking or other behaviours is a powerful tool to help manage BFRBs. These behaviours often stem from stress and anxiety, and hypnotherapy works by addressing the emotional triggers that drive them.
During a hypnotherapy session, you’ll enter a state of deep relaxation, where your therapist will guide you through techniques to reduce these behaviours. By focusing on the emotional root of the problem, hypnotherapy helps calm your nervous system and build healthier coping mechanisms.
Typically, six to ten sessions are needed, with each one personalised to meet your specific needs. Some therapists may provide recordings for at-home practice, offering ongoing support.
Hypnotherapy for cheek biting, hair pulling and other BFRBs can change the way your brain responds to stress, helping to reduce their frequency and intensity. It also promotes the release of endorphins, providing a natural stress relief without side effects.
By reshaping your thoughts and addressing the underlying causes of BFRBs, hypnotherapy offers a compassionate and effective approach to managing these behaviours.
Our Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
