Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#11

Post by airhead969 » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 3:56 AM UTC

Business without a net at the hemorrhaging edge is like war is like life. Been homeless, went bankrupt, and just idled a bit, for a while.

It's better to look at it as a game and an experiment. If someone gets too in-love with their "baby," emotionally or identity/ego, then they won't be able to pivot, chop it up, exit, or strangle it.

Take a break, get a job, go on a coke bender, sleep with 3 affiliates of VCs, become a Twitch DJ, vlog from India, sell windmills, have a kid, whatever it takes to get back to making a living or trying to make livings. It can be difficult to unfuck your shit after a big loss, do whatever physical or emotional labor is necessary to get back to an even keel. Psychological and/or pharmacological assistance could be needed for some people.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#12

Post by airhead969 » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:03 AM UTC

floatinglotus wrote: post #10

Having recently been affected by the end of an Intent-based networking startup, I can tell you it is a very emotional thing. I feel like part of me has died and my belief in the industry’s future state shaken. I learned that many people I had trusted were complicit in the failure and that hurts as well. We had money but a complete lack of leadership. I saw people that I felt were true believers like me change overnig…

I can only stress for the future: never get unquestionably-attached to a venture, colleagues, or a leadership pyramid. It's not a baby or a puppy, it's a configured paper organism commodity. True believers are also a BIG red flag: they lack perspective, assertive feedback, and creative debate.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#13

Post by psyklic » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:07 AM UTC

It is definitely real! Making big life changes for anything -- whether it be a startup, marriage, or new job -- can bring extreme highs and lows.

The most effective thing for me was confiding in supportive friends. I noticed I stopped thinking about it when I traveled far from the people/places that reminded me of it. Getting invested in new projects also helped.

Feel free to email me if you want to talk about it!

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#14

Post by devoutsalsa » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:08 AM UTC

The aftermath of trauma is real. If you can tackle it on your own, great. If not, therapy can help teach you how to cope. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#15

Post by sneak » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:31 AM UTC

tlb wrote: post #2

I had to shut down a company and lay off a dozen people, losing most of my savings and several years work. Friends have experienced much worse. These might not compare to the worst horrors of war, but they rank among life's agonies with getting divorced, or losing a parent. They can cause something like PTSD. It can take months or years to be ready to try something big again, and some people never bounce back. Most p…

> They can cause something like PTSD.

I believe that OP was asking about actual PTSD, which is thing with a specific definition and diagnostic criteria.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#16

Post by comfrey » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:32 AM UTC

Life is trauma. The more we take on the more punches we take. Let us not let our ambitions be weapons against ourselves. Leadership takes wisdom based on experience and learning.

The adrenals are the alarm, and the thyroid is the gas pedal. Trauma can offset both.

But yes, life and work is tough unless we have balance and willingness to grow from pain.

Keep breathing deep and take ashwagandha.

These times are more rough than most recent histories.

Sending love.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#17

Post by elliottkember » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:39 AM UTC

sneak wrote: post #15

tlb wrote: post #2

I had to shut down a company and lay off a dozen people, losing most of my savings and several years work. Friends have experienced much worse. These might not compare to the worst horrors of war, but they rank among life's agonies with getting divorced, or losing a parent. They can cause something like PTSD. It can take months or years to be ready to try something big again, and some people never bounce back. Most p…

> They can cause something like PTSD. I believe that OP was asking about actual PTSD, which is thing with a specific definition and diagnostic criteria.

Stress caused by trauma is by definition post-traumatic stress. It is commonly associated with war, car crashes or other violence but bear in mind that trauma is fairly subjective.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#18

Post by sahillavingia » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:39 AM UTC

No.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#19

Post by comfrey » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:41 AM UTC

airhead969 wrote: post #11

Business without a net at the hemorrhaging edge is like war is like life. Been homeless, went bankrupt, and just idled a bit, for a while. It's better to look at it as a game and an experiment. If someone gets too in-love with their "baby," emotionally or identity/ego, then they won't be able to pivot, chop it up, exit, or strangle it. Take a break, get a job, go on a coke bender, sleep with 3 affiliates of VCs, beco…

What a wonderful list of mind opening activities for the burnt out.

Time off helps and is difficult to take for the chronically obsessed.

Chose your obsessions carefully and learn how to let go.

Re: Ask HN: Is startup PTSD real and possible?

#20

Post by tallgiraffe » Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 4:54 AM UTC

"Most people who haven't experienced that kind of failure can't appreciate how much it hurts." - tld. Yeah, most people who are not in startups think you just got a bad quarter or launched an underwhelming project. They have no idea. Talking to other founders helps a lot though. You think you are alone, but then turns out your mind wasn't all that f--up at all, comparing to some others. Cheer up, you will eventually put it behind you, maybe.