Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#1

Post by mnopqrs » Thu, May 25, 2017, 3:53 PM UTC

(Throw away account)

50-60% through building MVP for my startup - currently alone.

But I am going through a state of depression since last 6 months. Reason I say this : I have noticed that I have total absence to any emotions. Even when I get good news: I feel like I am not even close to feeling happy.

I find it hard to even get up and put good 100 lines of code a week in this state.

To beat blues :I somehow barely managed myself to do some weigh training this week and in the process have managed to sprain my back. More rest.

How to beat a state like this in life ?

Any advise is highly appreciated.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#2

Post by anticore » Thu, May 25, 2017, 4:12 PM UTC

Seek therapy.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#3

Post by coretx » Thu, May 25, 2017, 4:20 PM UTC

Accept reality and you'll be halfway where you want to go. One such realities is that you are no longer who you used to be, and won't become that person ever again. Who you will be in the future, is still mostly decided by you alone and no one else.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#4

Post by framebit » Thu, May 25, 2017, 4:35 PM UTC

Depression is a serious disease and very rarely can you "do better try harder" and actually conquer it. Treat your mental state like your injured back: you need time, rest, self care and possibly professional help.

Maybe this is "just stress" but "just stress" adds up over time to produce adrenal fatigue and other physical effects in your body. Maybe there's also some brain chemical stuff going on, in which case no amount of thinking or willpower will get you out. Needing medication, if indeed you do, is not a sign of your personal failure. Needing professional help of any kind for depression is not a sign of your personal weakness, it's a sign of your personal strength that you're willing to reach out when you need help.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#5

Post by albertoangel » Thu, May 25, 2017, 5:17 PM UTC

Seek therapy. It doesn't happen overnight. Don't mix emotions with business. Have a life outside your business.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#6

Post by bsvalley » Thu, May 25, 2017, 5:24 PM UTC

It's usually "a good sign" when you're self-aware of your current state and emotional behavior. I'd say seek therapy first, but you might just be going through a down time. You're doing good because you know what's happening to you. Surround yourself with people in your project. I burnt out once and it took me 2 years to recover. I wasn't aware of my emotional state. During these 2 years I almost reached depression. My wife is the one that helped me going back outside, doing normal things. As of today, still looking at the world differently, things aren't that awesome anymore but you learn how to live with these feelings and you just deal with it. One day I hope to be fully recovered.

Seek for help.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#7

Post by sharmi » Thu, May 25, 2017, 5:42 PM UTC

Is your product going according to plan? 6 months by yourself without releasing is a very long time without feedback or validation of any sort. That kind of uncertainty can wear you down.

Is it possible to release a cut now? Actually meet people or customers for feedback before going further?

On the other hand, if it is not going as per plan, may be it is time to let go. Try to tell to yourself it does not matter anymore and spend a few days away from screens and keyboard. Sleep well and eat healthy. Once you are well rested, go out and meet friends or strangers, who will not remind you of your project. Take as long as you want as mental and physical well being is so much more important than a startup. At the end of the break, you will be able to decide what direction to take.

It could also be that you have a more lucrative/interesting idea on mind and the current project is a blocker. That can make your current project feel more and more like a dead weight around your neck. In such case, you will need to decide what your priorities are and pivot accordingly.

Sometimes, just doing some market research to validate the need for your product can also do wonders to your morale.

If none of these help, pl consult a professional. Do not be afraid. Burnout, just like any other symptoms of illness, is just another indication that for the time being, we need to bring our focus back to us, in our life.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#8

Post by chad_strategic » Thu, May 25, 2017, 7:37 PM UTC

It's hard to fully analyze your situation in this small paragraph.

1. Acceptance is the starting point or in the case acknowledgement of the problem 2. Talk Therapy / Counseling works. I would personally stay away from any pharma drugs, unless truly warranted. 3. I liked that you mentioned some weight training! Any regular exercise routine never hurt anybody. I have fought off depression with hitting the gym hard. It was what I needed at the time. 4. Can you smell what the Rock is cooking! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/dwayne-johnson-the-rock-...

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#9

Post by cbanek » Thu, May 25, 2017, 7:54 PM UTC

I'm also a solo founder writing an MVP, and have been working on it for maybe a year. It can be lonely, but keep the faith.

I think you're right on with hitting the gym. This is what I've done as well. Having people around, change of pace, and doing something that has progress I can see (body, weight) has been helpful.

Another thing that has been helpful is daily journaling to just get it out. I've been to therapy a lot, and while it can help, I find that really the best cure is to learn to help yourself. That starts with learning the actual problem, which it sounds like you need to figure out with some deep introspection.

I'm also a big fan of long walks and road trips to give you some thinking time.

Re: Ask HN: How do you beat depression or total burnout state?

#10

Post by whataretensors » Thu, May 25, 2017, 8:12 PM UTC

Mine occurred during a culmination of overworking and family acting outside of my expectations at my expense.

Here's the harsh truth. Burnout is going to cost money and time to fix. It's not simple. It's likely your brain is saying that things aren't right in your world representation. The best long term solution is understanding yourself and learning to explain what your subconscious is telling you.

Maybe your startup is taking more time to develop than you thought. Maybe your anxious about the market impact, the usefulness, or something else related to your timeline. Or you might just be watching too much CNN. You have to identify the variables that are contributing to your state(disbelief in your own world model will do it).

I don't believe that the root cause of depression is always nihilistic, although existential crisis' do exist. That's more about the state of being - and not everyone who faces the truth of reality crumbles.