Habit Reversal Steps
This method uses steps to break an obsessive habit (nail biting, thumb sucking, etc.). Although it is quite simple, the child must be at least 6-7 years old for it to be implemented. You should decide together with the child how you will perform the application, and make sure that your child is willing to do this.
Review of ailments: List with your child the difficulties caused by this habit and why does he or she want to get rid of it? In what situations does it cause problems for him?
Mindfulness training-identifying situations when it occurs: Noticing when and in which situations a habit occurs is the first step in controlling it. Prepare two charts. Mark when and where you repeat the obsessive movement on one, and your child on the other. Compare your charts a week later.
Alternative response: This is the key step in this method. To stop the habit, agree with your child what he or she will do each time he repeats this gesture. This should be such a behavior that although it is done for minutes, it does not seem strange to others, does not interfere with your child’s normal activity and makes the obsessive act become aware of it.
Corrective and Preventive Response: After learning the alternative response, have them use it to interrupt the habit or prevent it from occurring.
Connected Behavior: Try to identify the behavior that he did just before the obsessive act and have him use the alternative response to stop the previous connected behavior. For example, if you notice that he starts shaking his feet before he starts biting his nails, this is connected behavior.
Relaxation practice: A chosen relaxation technique should be applied.
Community Support: This support effort can come from you or a close friend as encouragement or praise.
Experiment: Encourage your child to routinely repeat the alternate behavior daily. Also suggest trying the alternative response when considering situations in which the obsession arose.
Log: Record the incidence of the habit daily to see how much progress you’ve made.
