More Than a Bad Habit: Solutions for Skin Picking, Hair Pulling & other BFRBs with Nathan Peterson

Do you struggle with skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, or other repetitive behaviors you just can’t seem to stop? These actions, known as Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), go far beyond “bad habits” and can have deep emotional and psychological roots. But what causes them? And more importantly, how can they be managed?

In this episode of The Happier Life Project, licensed therapist and BFRBs specialist Nathan Peterson joins us to explore the complexities of these compulsive behaviors. With years of experience working in mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, and his private practice in Texas, Nathan has dedicated his career to helping people navigate OCD, anxiety, tics, Tourette’s, and BFRBs. He also runs a popular OCD and anxiety YouTube channel, providing education and hope to millions.

BFRBs often serve as coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, boredom, or perfectionism, but they can also occur without conscious awareness. These repetitive self-grooming behaviors impact daily life and can be physically harmful, leading to hair loss, skin infections, and scarring. The emotional consequences range from shame and self-consciousness to anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphic disorder.

In this episode, we explore what makes a BFRB problematic. Is it a symptom of something deeper, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or OCD, or rather an isolated issue? Are BFRBs hereditary—can the repetitive compulsion be passed down? We also examine the connection between skin picking and perfectionism, along with the deeper psychological and emotional factors that drive these behaviors. Plus, we take a closer look at the role of compulsions and frustration in maintaining BFRBs, how can they be treated, or perhaps even accepted, and practical strategies for managing and resisting the urge to pick, pull, bite, or chew.

If you're seeking answers and support, this episode is packed with insights to help you take control of your BFRB or support someone you know who struggles with this condition.

To download the My Possible Self app: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast

To follow My Possible Self on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself

To follow Nate on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ocdandanxietyonline

Nate’s self-directed course for hair-pulling/skin-picking:  www.ocd-anxiety.com

Nate’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/ocdandanxiety

 

The most common Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) include:

Trichotillomania (Hair-Pulling Disorder) – Compulsively pulling out hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, or other areas of the body.
Dermatillomania (Skin-Picking Disorder/Excoriation Disorder) – Repeatedly picking at the skin, often leading to wounds, scarring, or infections.
Onychophagia (Chronic Nail Biting) – Habitual nail biting that can cause damage to the nails and surrounding skin.
Lip Biting (Lip Chewing Disorder) – Biting or chewing on the lips, sometimes to the point of causing sores or bleeding.
Cheek Biting (Morsicatio Buccarum) – Biting the inside of the cheeks, leading to irritation, sores, or thickened skin.
Rhinotillexomania (Compulsive Nose Picking) – Frequent and intense nose picking that can result in nasal damage or infections.