Does Rhinotillexomania Treatment Work?
This is the technical terminology for someone who has a compulsion to pick their nose. People often think of nose pickers as little children, but it's a condition that can affect adults as well.
If you think you may be experiencing rhinotillexomania, there are numerous treatment options available. Below, we’ll explore rhinotillexomania in more detail and look at treatment options for this condition.
What is rhinotillexomania?
Rhinotillexomania can be defined as a compulsive picking of the nose or nasal septum. While some people may think of nose-picking as something that only children engage in, surveys suggest that almost everyone picks their nose to some degree. One survey found that half of the respondents pick their nose about four times a day.
Therefore, not everyone who picks their nose has rhinotillexomania. People who pick their nose may not have any compulsion to do so. However, the habit can still result in some of the dangers listed below. One of the main differences between rhinotillexomania and simple nose-picking is the compulsion that exists within the disorder and the repetitive, body-focused behaviors that characterize it.
Treating rhinotillexomania
Treatment for rhinotillexomania can help individuals manage the symptoms of the disorder. Typical treatment options include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two. A psychiatrist or psychologist may be able to determine whether a person has the condition and then come up with a plan for treatment.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies rhinotillexomania under obsessive-compulsive disorder and related disorders, such as body-focused repetitive behvaior. If rhinotillexomania is caused by OCD or another type of anxiety disorder, the individual may be prescribed medication, such as an antidepressant. It’s recommended that you always consult a doctor before deciding to start or stop a medication.
If you experience rhinotillexomania, you may benefit from speaking to a licensed therapist. Given that rhinotillexomania is listed in the same context as trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull one’s hair), a therapist may use therapeutic methods that apply to this condition, such as habit reversal training, cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
Solutions to reduce harm
If you're not ready to seek out counseling just yet, consider trying out some of the following strategies to safeguard your health in the meantime. Additionally, should you choose to see a therapist, you can still try to implement these methods into your life as an additional source of help.
Avoid using your fingernails
While you’re working on picking your nose less, it may help to avoid using your fingernails when doing so. Consider using a cotton swab instead of using your fingers to pick your nose. This may lower your risk of developing a perforation of the nasal cavity or an infection.
Blow your nose
Instead of picking your nose, you might try blowing it into a tissue instead. It may not provide the same relief and satisfaction, but it may help you reduce the urge to pick.
Use a bandage or fidget toy
One strategy to reduce nose picking is to wrap the finger you usually use to pick y our nose in a small band-aid. The strange sensation of the bandage on your nose may keep you from picking your nose without thinking about it.
Also, there are many different options that can provide relief from stress and anxiety. Fidget toys may be useful because they can help keep you distracted from picking your nose and keep your hands busy. Without fingers to pick and an extra distraction, it might be harder to pick your nose.
Who has rhinotillexomania?
Rhinotillexomania tends to occur in children and young adults. Rhinotillexomania usually doesn't have anything to do with hygiene or necessity. Instead, it's typically a compulsive way to ease tension or stress.
Someone who feels a large amount of stress or who experiences an anxiety disorder may be susceptible to the disorder. Those with other types of compulsion disorders, such as different forms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, may be more susceptible to rhinotillexomania. Additionally, they may be more likely to live with a combination of various conditions with similar causes.
Symptoms of rhinotillexomania
An individual with rhinotillexomania typically picks their nose because they feel an irresistible compulsion to do so. They may continue to do so even to the point of severe irritation because they can't seem to stop themselves from doing it. People who engage in nose picking may experience excessive nosebleeds (recurrent epistaxis) or accidentally cut their nasal cavity, which might lead to infections or other problems with their nose.
These individuals may also experience excessive tension and anxiety that can lead up to rhinotillexomania. They may then feel relief or gratification after they engage in the activity but feel shame or guilt because of the behavior. They might attempt to hide the behavior, but it can still be somewhat apparent to those around them.
Someone who engages in this type of behavior may engage in other similar behaviors as well. Some people who report picking their noses excessively have also reported behaviors such as picking at their skin, biting their fingernails, pulling out their hair, and picking at their cuticles. Someone may pick at various parts of the body or different areas more or less frequently than they do others.
Getting help for rhinotillexomania
If you’re experiencing compulsive behaviors that feel out of your control, you may benefit from speaking to a licensed counselor. If you don’t feel comfortable with traditional in-office therapy, you might consider online therapy. With online therapy, you can connect with a therapist from the comfort of your home via phone, videoconferencing, or live chat, which may be more comfortable if you’re experiencing obsessions or compulsions. You can also contact your therapist at any time through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can.
The efficacy of online counseling
Individuals experiencing compulsive behaviors may benefit from online counseling. In an assessment of an online video teletherapy treatment, researchers found that the intervention “resulted in clinically and statistically significant improvements, with a 43.4% mean reduction in obsessive-compulsive symptoms.” Additionally, participants experienced fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Below are some reviews of BetterHelp counselors from people experiencing similar concerns.
Counselor reviews
"Lindsey is very good at putting things in perspective. She is a great listener and offers realistic, loving advice without being judgmental or harsh. I feel like she has helped me to see things in a way that makes me able and willing to change my negative behaviors without feeling like my life is going to end and I'll never get over the loss of my old ways….”
"Busola is amazing, I've only had a few sessions with her but she makes me feel listened to. She understands what my primary needs are for each session and addresses them. Moreover, it doesn't feel like just time to talk and unload everything on someone, but she addresses negative behavioral patterns and helps create an action plan for them."
Takeaway
How do I stop my nose picking addiction?
The most effective way to treat rhinotillexomania (the compulsive and repetitive behavior of picking one’s nose) is to treat the potential co-occurring anxiety disorder that often accompanies it. As for all forms of body-focused repetitive behaviors, behavior therapy is most often the clinical choice for managing symptoms. In certain cases, medication may also be recommended by your healthcare provider as part of your treatment plan.
Is rhinotillexomania a form of OCD?
Rhinotillexomania (compulsive nose picking) is not a recognized disorder in the DSM-5, rather it is one of many body-focused repetitive behaviors like nail biting, or compulsive skin picking that may be a symptom of mental health conditions like anxiety or OCD.
What can chronic rhinotillexomania lead to?
Casual or occasional nose-picking may not have any real consequences other than potential embarrassment due to not being socially acceptable, but rhinotillexomania over time can lead to physical issues, including:
- Sinus infections and other respiratory infections from introducing germs into the nasal passages
- Nosebleeds due to irritation of nasal tissue
- Risk of septum perforation
Can nose picking cause empty nose syndrome?
Empty nose syndrome is an extremely rare condition that is usually caused by nasal surgery. In theory, excessive nose picking may cause this condition, but it is very unlikely. ENS is when a person has difficulty breathing through their nose, even when the nasal passages are clear. Medical professionals do not yet fully understand this condition and its causes, and it is usually treated by keeping the nasal passages moist with saline spray or humidifiers, and in some cases using a CPAP machine.
Is nose picking a form of anxiety?
It can be a symptom of certain forms of anxiety. It may also be caused by genetics, hormonal changes, or even the use of certain stimulant medications.
What is the mental illness of nose picking?
When nose picking becomes obsessive and excessive, clinicians call it rhinotillexomania. It is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-V, but rather one of a group of skin picking disorders that may be present as a symptom of certain mental health conditions.
Is picking your nose part of ADHD?
There have been some links between medications used to treat ADHD and the appearance of rhinotillexomania in people who had no previous history of nose picking.
What happens if you excessively pick your nose?
For those who pick their nose excessively, you put yourself at risk of infection due to the introduction of germs into the nasal mucus. Nosebleeds can also be common, as the delicate nasal tissue is irritated and torn. In some severe cases, there is a chance of septum perforation.
How do you treat skin picking ADHD?
The most common treatment for compulsive skin picking disorders behavioral therapy. A licensed therapist can work with the client to replace this disruptive habit with other habits that are more positive. Distraction can also be helpful; some may introduce fidget spinners or other tools to keep the hands busy.
Is rhinotillexomania a psychiatric disorder or habit?
It could be classified as both. Certain criteria may be used by a medical professional to determine whether excessive nose picking is a habit or could be better understood as a disorder. The type of treatment in any case will depend on the level of severity.
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