By Casey Clark, writer, content strategist and BFRB advocate
Although more people are open these days about their body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), there's still a lot of misinformation floating around the internet. It's easy to watch a TikTok video and think that what a health or wellness influencer says is indeed fact, but it may not always the case.
Not only can misinformation be dangerous, it can also lead to inaccurate BFRB diagnosis and doesn't lend itself well to helping people get the treatment they need. At the end of the day, you deserve access to factual and evidence-based information about BFRBs, like trichotillomania, dermatillomania and onychophagia - and BFRB Changemakers is here to help!
Ahead, we debunk five popular myths regarding body-focused repetitive behaviors and give information about BFRBs that is up to date with current research and treatment protocol.
Myth: BFRBs are Uncommon
Although many people aren't familiar with the term body-focused repetitive behavior, that doesn't mean they are uncommon. Actually, current research indicates that more than three percent of the population has a BFRB — that's more than 10 million people in the United States itself. You actually probably know someone who has a BFRB whether that's a friend or family member.
The reason that BFRBs might seem uncommon is because there isn't a lot of conversation around them. Additionally, there's also a social stigma around BFRBs that can make people feel ashamed, alone and afraid to seek professional help.
Here at BFRB Changemakers, we are trying to change that and reduce the stigma. Our goal is to not only share information and knowledge, but also spread awareness and foster a sense of community among those who have BFRBs.
That said, there's no pressure to disclose to anyone that you have a BFRB. Your journey can be as private or public as you feel comfortable and that is completely valid.
MYTH: BFRBs are Self Harm
Although it is true that body-focused repetitive behaviors can cause harm to the body in forms of balding, scabbing, scarring and infection, the goal for those with BFRBs is different from those who self-harm.
Individuals who engage in self-harm behaviors typically do so to cause themselves physical pain in an attempt to decrease levels of emotional pain and suffering. On the other hand, individuals with BFRBs aren't trying to cause themselves physical pain, but instead are usually seeking out pleasure and stress relief.
Although many people with BFRBs end up physically harming themselves in some way as a result, the intention is different from those who engage in traditional self harm behaviors.
MYTH: Only women have BFRBs
Body-focused repetitive behaviors affect both men and women in a similar way. It may seem like women only have BFRBs because they are more likely to seek out treatment and professional help, but that doesn't mean men don't struggle too.
MYTH: Anxiety is the sole cause of BFRBs
Nearly everyone with a BFRB says that anxiety has been a trigger for their behaviors at some point in their journey. On the other hand, it isn't always anxiety that causes one to engage in a body-focused repetitive behavior.
For example, someone may pull their hair or bite their nails when they are anxious or stressed. However, the same person may also find themselves engaging in those behaviors when they are alone or bored without particularly being anxious. Additionally, some people may engage in BFRBs subconsciously, or automatically, without even realizing it which happens a lot more often than you might think.
When it comes to identifying triggers for a BFRB, it's important to seek out professional guidance from a therapist or other licensed health professional as they can help you perhaps consider areas that you may have missed and develop a treatment plan best catered to your specific needs.
MYTH: BFRBs are Caused by Trauma
MYTH: BFRBs are OCD
Although body-focused repetitive behaviors and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have similar presentations, they are in fact different. The best way to think about them is that they are cousins — related, but not in the same direct immediate family.
The DSM-5 categorizes BFRBs as unspecified-obsessive compulsive related disorders as opposed to traditional OCD.
The main difference rests in the reason why people engage in BFRBs compared to more traditional OCD-related behaviors. Behaviors related to OCD are generally triggered by an intrusive thought or compulsion whereas BFRBs are generally tied to the autopilot desire of achieving some kind of pleasure or relief.
There's also a difference in the way that OCD is treated compared to BFRBs. The first line of treatment for OCD is Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) whereas for BFRBs the standard treatment option is a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and habit reversal training (HRT.)
Knowing the truths about BFRBs can help lead to improved outcomes for those suffering from hair pulling, skin picking, nail biting and sister conditions.
About the Author
Casey Clark is a writer and content strategist from New York City who specializes in mental health, beauty and travel. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost, National Geographic and more.
