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Hands Up

Coping with BFRBs

Embarrassment
The Lifelong Shame of BFRBs

Jennifer Raikes on August 19, 2019

People spend decades hiding their hair pulling or skin picking from friends and family—but it’s not too late to change.

People spend decades hiding their hair pulling or skin picking from friends and family—but it’s not too late to change.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
Suddenly Last Summer, When My BFRB Kicked In...

Jennifer Raikes on June 12, 2019

Do you remember when you first started pulling your hair or picking your skin? If you started in early adolescence, during summer vacation, you are not alone.

Do you remember when you first started pulling your hair or picking your skin? If you started in early adolescence, during summer vacation, you are not alone.

Career
The Secret Lives of Men at Work

Jennifer Raikes on May 1, 2019

Are you a man whose career calls for clear skin, neat nails, or a full beard? If you have a BFRB, your path to advancement might feel limited.

Are you a man whose career calls for clear skin, neat nails, or a full beard? If you have a BFRB, your path to advancement might feel limited.

Self-Help
How I Became My Own Best Test Subject

Jennifer Raikes on March 11, 2019

When therapy is not the (only) answer: how we can experiment to find the behavioral interventions that work best for us.

When therapy is not the (only) answer: how we can experiment to find the behavioral interventions that work best for us.

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors
Telling My College Roomate the Truth About My BFRB

Jennifer Raikes on November 21, 2018

I was assigned to share a room with another girl when I started college. I hoped she would be accepting of my hair pulling disorder, but I had no idea how she would react.

I was assigned to share a room with another girl when I started college. I hoped she would be accepting of my hair pulling disorder, but I had no idea how she would react.

Embarrassment
My Sister's Secret Trich-y Life

Jennifer Raikes on July 18, 2018

What made the bathroom floor flood with hair, what made my sister cry herself to sleep, what made her wear a wig to high school, was a cunning and sly disorder: trichotillomania.

What made the bathroom floor flood with hair, what made my sister cry herself to sleep, what made her wear a wig to high school, was a cunning and sly disorder: trichotillomania.