Treat Compulsive Picking with Alexander Technique

An approach very similar to the Feldenkrais Method and Trager Approach for improving movement and replacing poor habits with good ones — Alexander Technique is useful in alleviating unconscious physical stresses that contribute to poor health in a variety of ways:

• Alexander Technique provides a structured method for
  1. Overcoming undesired movement patterns (e.g. finger picking), and
  2. Consciously ingraining optimal or desired movement patterns (e.g. stillness in the hands and fingers)
• Alexander Technique has been particularly successful treating repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and elbow tendinitis — both of which can easily afflict the compulsive finger picker
• Alexander Technique is an excellent way to foster an objective view of oneself and one’s personal weaknesses. This can be very important to those whose compulsive picking habit stems from poor body self-image (body dysmorphic disorder) or shame of some sort.

Also much like Feldenkrais and Trager therapy, Alexander Technique is a relatively new habit reversal training modality grounded in empirical observations and applied using the scientific method. This is not your stereotypical touchy-feely new age self-help therapy — Alexander Technique is focused on improving movement patterns in the body, raising awareness in the mind, and providing concrete lessons for achieving definite goals in the committed student.