Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#11

Post by Mz » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 5:38 PM UTC

What changed in the past few weeks? Look at this as possibly a somatopsychic issue. Look at dietary changes or other health changes. But also look at other stressors, like breaking up with your SO or having a falling out with a family member. Depression typically comes from one of two sources: 1) wonky brain chemistry, which is a medical issue or 2) some kind of real world problem that leaves you feeling helpless, often that problem is social in nature.

Best of luck.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#12

Post by sogen » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 5:40 PM UTC

As someone that had depresion, I know how you feel.

> my other account is quite active on here

1.- STOP READING HN! Go out, read books, do hard work (dig holes, plant trees, etc), sweat! exercise! there's more to life than the latest startups and 'show hn' posts.

2.- watch funny movies Seriously, I had a ritual, every night after work I'd prepare dinner, and watch something funny, every single night. No excuses. This helped a lot.

3.- exercise. Helps with mood. I think this is even better than medicine.

4.- leave HN, there are other things more important.

5.- find a hobby or do something different. I decided to do something bigger: I had enough with my previous career and wasn't happy, So, I entered school again to study a different career 10 years later. This saved me.

6.- it gets better.

7.- Oh, and don't sleep at daytime, keep a schedule, a routine, sleep at night.

8.- Don't play videogames, avoid repetitive stuff: like 3d shooters where you play again and again the same levels.

9.- Again, find a hobby, something that makes you go out.

Drop me an email if you need anything

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#13

Post by richardjennings » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 5:49 PM UTC

bounce

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#14

Post by JSeymourATL » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 6:13 PM UTC

Just to echo the recommendation on exercise. Can you muster the strength to run/walk/rake leaves?

I won't pretend it's THE answer-- but it can help significantly > http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-and-dep...

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#15

Post by scoreponok » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 6:25 PM UTC

There is evidence that meditation can help with anxiety/depression. I've experienced depression through varying life circumstances although never clinical depression. In these times of distress i began meditating, and have not stopped as i find it helps me.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#16

Post by fefifofu » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 6:29 PM UTC

sogen wrote: post #12

As someone that had depresion, I know how you feel. > my other account is quite active on here 1.- STOP READING HN! Go out, read books, do hard work (dig holes, plant trees, etc), sweat! exercise! there's more to life than the latest startups and 'show hn' posts. 2.- watch funny movies Seriously, I had a ritual, every night after work I'd prepare dinner, and watch something funny, every single night. No excuses. This…

You forgot: 10.- Eat healthy and drink lots of water. Fruits and veggies, less bread and potatoes.

(I can be presumptuous in saying I know you forgot #10 because it feels like I wrote your list myself...)

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#17

Post by thinksocrates » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 6:48 PM UTC

I would encourage you to try meditation. It's not a cure for depression, but it can have effects that help. In the Zen tradition, Brad Warner's books have been very helpful to me. http://www.amazon.com/Hardcore-Zen-Monster-Movies-Reality/dp...

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#18

Post by stlHusker » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 6:53 PM UTC

Sounds like you might be suffering from "imposter syndrome". A good number of high functioning, highly productive people who really care about their work suffer from this. It's normal and once you learn to control is, it can differentiate you from your peers.

http://lifehacker.com/overcoming-impostor-syndrome-what-to-d...

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#19

Post by realcr » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 7:24 PM UTC

Stop with those medications. Psychologists and doctors these days tend to fix everything by putting you under some generic label and give you some generic medication. Medication is a good fix if you have some inflammation in your elbow and you take antibiotics for a week or two, but taking medications for longer than that is just plain wrong. Usually it will only deal with the symptoms, while hiding the real problems.

I don't know you personally, but let me give you my general opinion about solving your problem:

- " I was diagnosed with depression a few years ago and since then have made peace with it" - Don't let other people tell you what you have, even if they have a PhD. What if this guy was wrong? Some doctor told me 10 years ago that I will never be able to walk properly, because knees don't heal. Guess what, it did heal. I run 10 Kilometers for fun every Friday.

- Start exercising. Go for some martial art if you can. Do it at least twice a week.

- Stop with the news. Any kind of news. Read a good long book instead.

- Meet some good friends, and do it often.

- Don't give up to yourself. Don't work at a boring non challenging job. It will rot your soul from the inside. Keep up with the challenging work. You don't have to go over your head, always aim just a bit higher than your comfort zone. If you feel things are too difficult for you at this point, ask your team to go easy for a while. No shame in doing that.

Life is beautiful. Do your best to enjoy your time here.

Re: Ask HN: Any advice for a programmer who has hit rock bottom?

#20

Post by mtrpcic » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 7:32 PM UTC

realcr wrote: post #19

Stop with those medications. Psychologists and doctors these days tend to fix everything by putting you under some generic label and give you some generic medication. Medication is a good fix if you have some inflammation in your elbow and you take antibiotics for a week or two, but taking medications for longer than that is just plain wrong. Usually it will only deal with the symptoms, while hiding the real problems…

While I appreciate the sentiment you're going for, it should be notes that you have no authority to give medical advice, and OP should not go off his prescriptions based on your comment. What you should have said (and what OP should do) is to have a discussion about that possibility with his or her primary care physician. I don't care what the circumstances are, people should not accept unsolicited medical advice from anonymous users on the internet without fact checking with a doctor. Not all doctors push pills the way you're describing.