Choosing a job / career while suffering from dermatillomania??

I think you should do whatever it takes to rid yourself of this problem and pick whatever job you want. We shouldn't all have to limit ourselves because of this more than we already have in the past. Best of luck, I know I need it as well.

I relate to this fully - missed a test earlier this term for the same reason. I feel so depressed sometimes after I've picked and so sorry for myself I just don't bother to do anything! I don't know what to say because I feel the same but I guess at the moment I am telling myself this is something I will get through - always assumed when I was younger I'd 'grow out of it' but now I know that is not going to happen I am going to fight it every day til it stops. We CAN end this, or at least try to manage it so we can have a stable job.You might not be ready for that yet but one day you will come out the other side.

if you haven't finished your education or if you're looking to learn more, maybe start by doing some online classes. that way you're working toward something positive while still (hopefully) focusing on how to stop picking. but yes, i'm a full time student and i used to have a full time job. hate to say it, but aside from my face (with pounds of makeup), i started picking more and more on my legs. the "added bonus" is i can just wear pants. that's in quotes cuz the real bonus would be if i didn't have to cover anything up at all.

I have a job---I'm a full time English teacher. I don't feel the guilt, necessarily, but I have been CONSISTENTLY picking since I was 17. I mean, every few of hours or so, I have to pick. This has been happening for 5 years. All of my scabs and scars are where most people can't see them (buttocks, breasts, and back) but I can only seek relief in the restrooms or on my planning where no one is in the room... I hate this, and I can't stand that I have to do it. and honestly, its gotten to the point where I don't even notice that I'm doing it... I just want to have something ELSE define me and my life instead of picking... ugh. so frustrating.

In the last 8 years I have had 2 jobs. 1 was a 9-5 office job writing technical documents. The other was a less traditional job as a onsite trainer for a software company. While I worked the 9-5 my picking was not so bad. At least it was less visible. I was around people all day so I didn't have the privacy to pick, at least not anything serious. I did of course pick in the car on lunch, or in the bathroom, but it was not in places that coworkers could see, and I didn't have a ton of time to make it bad. (I don't know if that made sense) When I became a trainer I pretty much created my own schedule. I would many times work from home doing webcasts, or writing curriculum or material. Being at home for long periods of time made my picking worse. I just sat at the computer typing with one hand and picking with the other. I type with my right hand and pick with my left. The right side of my body is a disaster. I also traveled with my job. As long as I avoided picking my face I could wear a suit jacket and always look professional. Long stays alone in a hotel are also not the ideal for a picker. It provides a lot of opportunity to zone out and pick. I was laid off in November. Now I am a stay at home mom. Picking is bad everywhere now. I am having trouble stopping. I have no one to judge me, so I pick constantly. If you are trying to stop I would suggest trying to find a 9-5. Or something were you have to be around people all the time. It definitely helped me. That was probably my "best tine" as far as the quality of my skin.