Ask a therapist > Anxiety > Is CBT good for skin picking and ADHD?

Is CBT good for skin picking and ADHD?

Hi! Basically i've definitely always had a bit of ADHD but it was never too detrimental to me in school, I always managed to get decent grades etc. But i think being home because of Covid and now taking a year off university i've had nothing to do and my picking of my fingers has gotten so much worse. I think i always did it slightly but never to this extent. I fidget a lot but i used to just click pens and drum in class but now i only use a computer for work so i resort to picking my fingers. I had an ADHD assessment yesterday and was told that i have it but not to the extent that medication would work, and he said it wouldn't help my fingers anyway. He recommended CBT, is this something you can help with?

Asked by cb

Anxiety

Answered

01/18/2021

Hi CB, we can help you with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). With the limited information that I have, I would agree with whomever you worked with recently. I have not actually had a session with you but it sounds like you are experiencing Exorication disorder. It is a mental disorder that is classified as an impulse control issue and falls under the group of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is characterized by repeated picking at one's skin which results in lesions and can result in significant disruption in the person's life. If left untreated, the skin-picking behaviors can continue for weeks, months, or years at a time. It is common for individuals with this disorder to spend a significant amount of time, up to several hours a day with the picking behavior. It affects 1.4 percent of adults in the United States. Skin picking is considered a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) that normally begins in adolescence. However, it can begin at any age. Other "BFRB" disorders are pulling and picking of the hair.

There is not a specific cause that is known for the disorder but there is evidence with a link to OCD disorder. It is considered an OCD disorder because of the compulsive urge to perform repetitive behavior. Some of the possible causes are perfectionism, stress, and boredom. There is also some research that has shown a possible genetic link to the disorder.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps individuals understand how their thoughts and behavior patterns are related in order to reduce repetitive behaviors. Individuals learn to change their thoughts to stop picking at their skin. Treatment for skin picking disorder focuses on identifying triggers, addressing the behavior, and managing the symptoms of any underlying medical or physical condition. Habit reversal training has been shown to help reduce the symptoms. The therapist assists the client with finding healthy alternative methods of managing triggers that lead to the behavior. There is also medication that can be helpful but that is not something that we would be able to do at BetterHelp. You would need to consult your medical provider for that service. Hope this provides you with the information you were seeking. Have a great day.

Aaron Duckworth

LCSW