Translating ADHD

Managing Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors with ADHD

Feb 24, 2025

Discover the world of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), commonly seen in ADHD individuals. Personal anecdotes reveal the struggles of nail biting and skin picking. Learn how understanding triggers can help manage these habits. Practical solutions like habit reversal techniques and the use of fidget tools are explored. The hosts emphasize balancing self-care, sleep, and exercise to reduce these behaviors. Cultivating awareness and implementing small changes can lead to significant improvements in managing BFRBs.

26:51

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Quick takeaways

Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) in individuals with ADHD often stem from hyperactivity, requiring awareness of triggers for effective management.

Implementing practical strategies, such as habit reversal techniques and structured routines, can significantly help reduce the occurrence of BFRBs.

Deep dives

Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) such as skin picking, hair pulling, and nail biting are common among individuals with ADHD. These behaviors can stem from various factors, including internalized hyperactivity, low self-monitoring, and an inability to regulate attention. As hyperactivity in adults may not manifest outwardly, these repetitive actions can serve as a physical outlet for pent-up energy. Many people with ADHD struggle with awareness of their actions, often realizing they've engaged in these behaviors only after causing injury to themselves.

Intro

3min

Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors in ADHD

4min

Navigating Grooming and Fidgeting with Body-Focused Behaviors

2min

Managing Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Through Habit Awareness

5min

Managing Body-Focused Behaviors in ADHD

14min

In this episode, hosts Ash and Dusty dive into the topic of Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs), which are common among individuals with ADHD. They discuss behaviors such as skin picking, nail biting, and hair pulling, highlighting how these actions serve as manifestations of underlying hyperactivity and sensory issues. Dusty shares personal anecdotes about her struggles with nail biting and cuticle peeling, emphasizing the importance of understanding the triggers and habitual patterns that lead to these behaviors. Ash adds insights into how daily routines and grooming practices can help mitigate these tendencies by addressing the sensory discomfort that often drives them.

The hosts explore practical solutions for managing BFRBs, ranging from habit reversal techniques to the use of fidgets and sensory aids. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle with adequate sleep, exercise, and self-care to reduce the occurrence of these behaviors. By engineering a life that aligns with the needs of an ADHD brain, individuals can better manage their attention and reduce stress, ultimately decreasing the frequency of BFRBs. Ash and Dusty encourage listeners to cultivate an awareness of their habits and to implement small changes that can lead to significant improvements in managing repetitive behaviors.

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Translating ADHD

Managing Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors with ADHD

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Understanding Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors

Strategies for Managing BFRBs

The Importance of a Supportive Lifestyle

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts