VIDEO: Special: Picking, Pulling, Biting and the Neurodivergent Brain | BFRB Con

What happens when body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs) and neurodivergence intersect? And how can understanding the brain help us move beyond shame towards more compassionate support? In this Season 6 Special of the Neurodiverse Voices Podcast, Andreia is joined by Dr Allyson Parry, Consultant Neurologist with a specialist expertise in adult ADHD, and Dr Alison Lenox, Consultant Neurodevelopmental Psychiatrist specialising in adult autism and ADHD. Recorded live at BFRB Con 2026, this insightful conversation explores the complex relationship between body-focused repetitive behaviours (BFRBs), ADHD and autism. Allyson discusses how attention regulation, impulsivity, restlessness and reward-seeking may contribute to behaviours such as skin picking, hair pulling and nail biting, and why ADHD treatment can affect BFRBs differently from person to person. Alison explores the overlaps between BFRBs, autistic stimming, sensory experiences and compulsions, highlighting why the same behaviour can have different meanings depending on the individual and their circumstances. Together, they challenge the tendency to view diagnoses in isolation and explore the importance of personalised care, accessible services and research that recognises the complexity of people's experiences. Above all, they remind us that understanding the person behind the behaviour is essential to providing meaningful, compassionate support. Guests: Dr Allyson Parry — Consultant Neurologist, with a specialist interest in adult ADHD. Dr Alison Lenox — Consultant Neurodevelopmental Psychiatrist, specialising in adult autism and ADHD. Host: Andreia — Neurodiverse Voices Podcast Recorded live at BFRB Con, bringing together neurological and psychiatric perspectives to encourage greater understanding, curiosity and compassion. 🔗 Links & Resources BFRB Con 2026 — Bringing together researchers, clinicians and people with lived experience to advance understanding, research and support for body-focused repetitive behaviours. ⁠https://www.bfrbcon.org/⁠ The Trich Prof — Professor Clare Mackay — Sharing research, lived experience and education to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding BFRBs. Instagram: ⁠  / ⁠   YouTube: ⁠   / @thetrichprof