Hair Pulling and Skin Picking
Hair pulling (officially known as trichotillomania) and skin picking (known as excoriation) are body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) that include recurring urges that are difficulty to control.
These behaviors often occur automatically in response to boredom or stress and may have occurred for many years or even decades. They can lead to physical damage and often result in feelings of shame, frustration, and a feeling of not being in control, but they are learned behavior and can be changed with Habit Reversal Training (HRT).
Habit Reversal Training (HRT)
Treatment for hair pulling and skin picking involves noticing and tracking the internal and external factors that trigger and reinforce these behaviors, and developing a plan to address all the different factors as well as alternative responses people can use.
Stimulus Control
- Changing environmental cues that make these behaviors more likely to occur
- Creating intentional obstacles to delay and reduce the frequency of engagement with these behaviors
Emotional Regulation Strategies
- Developing healthier coping strategies to fulfill what the behaviors previously accomplished, which can be a relief of pressure, a sense of control, or a sensory self-soothing mechanism.
Situational Awareness Development
- Emotional states in which these urges arise
- Environments in which they typically occur
- Stressors that make picking or pulling more likely
Research has proven Habit Reversal Training to be the most effective form of treatment for hair pulling and skin picking (and other forms of body-focused repetitive behaviors).
If you or someone you know is caught in the cycle of hair pulling or skin picking, I am confident that I can help and invite you to contact me today for a free consultation.