In Therapy, by Christopher Carey

It’s Not “Just a Bad Habit”

What are Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors?

i.e. a group of behaviors in which an individual damages his or her appearance or causes physical injury.

Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)

-The recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair, leading to hair loss and emotional distress. -Pulling occurs most commonly from the individual’s scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows. -This condition is thought to affect about every 4 in 100 people or 3.5% of the population.

Dermotillomania (Nail Biting or Skin Picking)

-aka Excoriation disorder, characterized by uncontrollable picking, peeling, biting at skin or nails.

- Affects around 1.4% of the population.

-could also include cheek biting and joint cracking

Symptoms / Triggers

The root cause differs but can be brought on by stress, bordom, anxiety, and depression.

-Can be a coping mechasism brought on my chaos or trauma in childhood.

-The symptoms cause significant distress, shame, or impairment Other Disorders/OCD

Body focused repetitive behaviors can coincide with other mental problems such as - Depression - Anxiety - Body Dismorphia - Obessive Compulsive Disorder

What Are Treatment Options?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and/or meditation practices

by Martha Sprout

Medications -N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), -antidepressants - anti anxiety Stimulas Control - practice mindfulness -buy a figet toy or bracelet -do some journaling - find a support group

by Lyra Whinnery

Why I’m slumped until barely in my chair: my orchestra teacher directs the violin section and my leg bounces, urging me further down. What time is it?

My orchestra teacher directs the violin section; my focus slips. What time is it? The clock whispers, less than ten minutes.

My focus slips, I wipe my palm on my pants and pass my viola and bow from hand to hand. The clock whispers, less than ten minutes, but Tyler, overly keen, smirks and interrupts to ask why

I wipe my palm on my pants and pass my viola and bow from hand to hand again. I draw and hold my breath to bury a quavering sigh because Tyler, overly keen, smirked and interrupted to ask why my eyes flicker to the clock

again. I draw and hold my breath to bury the quavering, sigh, my mom’s picking me up early is all. And now my eyes flicker to the clock before I face him to explain

my mom’s picking me up early, is all. And now I make a wish to the clock before I face him to explain why I’m slumped until barely in my chair.