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Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

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Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#21

Post by benched »

michaelochurch wrote: post #7

I think the issue is more that we have a skill that powers the world, but 95% of us are just business subordinates-- not professionals like doctors or professors, not even unionized-- and the 5% who have good jobs at any given time still live under the threat of an unforeseen issue (AI winter, financial crash wiping out the quant jobs, age discrimination, "Series A crunches") putting them back into the EnterpriseJava…

Wow. I could not have stated better exactly how I feel about my career, and what I perceive to be my prospects after 15 years of being 'performance review successful' in this industry. And to those who can't resist giving unsolicited advice like, "It's all you, your choices, and your attitude!" - I've heard that one.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#22

Post by benched »

nraynaud wrote: post #10

"is your facebook a lie?" It resonates strangely to me, one friend told me my facebook statuses where really negative and that my fb friends were tired of it. Somehow, I guess you are contextually expected to lie anyways.

And I experienced something like the reverse of this, while I was on FB. Seeing my friends being mealy-mouthed and trite continually, because they were on a public platform visible to everybody they ever met in their life, made me involuntarily lose so much respect for them. I had to close my account so I wouldn't see it anymore. I can understand the mentality, and the desire to be this way, because I can remember feeling that kind of pressure to be a certain way and work on my cachet, when I was in middle school. I just have a really hard time tolerating it now when I see it.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#23

Post by selimthegrim »

pjungwir wrote: post #19
euphemize wrote: post #12

Small tip for the ones working on their own and/or freelancers. Join a co-working space/community! I did a few months ago and the difference is very noticeable. If you're in a large-ish metro area, chances are there are some around you. Having lunch with other people, being able to ask around for help or feedback, taking part in events are all small things that end up making a big difference.

Here in Portland, a bunch of Ruby freelancers have started working together out of a coffee shop on Fridays. This is a lot cheaper & more casual than a co-working space, and it's a lot of fun. (It's also probably not a bad way to get the occasional new project.) I also have a couple closer friends I walk with on Monday afternoons, and that's a great way to catch up, get outside, and talk shop/life/etc.

Which coffee shop, may I ask? Not Ford Food and Drink?

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#24

Post by rhizome »

_random_ wrote: post #16
zaphar wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We used to do Starcraft lunch at work. 2 people would play a starcraft game and the rest of us would gather in a conference room to watch the stream and provide running commentary. We also have an in house tool that sets up lunch times between a random group of 4 people periodically. It's a great way to meet others in the office and socialize. Both of these were employee provided ideas. If you empower your employees…

It also helps if there are no boring bring-lunch-from-home types.

Please don't go into management.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#25

Post by benched »

hrish2006 wrote: post #11

It reminded me of this https://xkcd.com/664/ when I read it. The difference between what is intellectually stimulating and gives you a sense of aesthetic pleasure and joy, and writing something that will work correctly in IE6 is too damn huge.

Programming is one of the most exciting, flow-inducing, mentally stimulating, mathematically and logically enlightening, rewarding activities I do. Programming is one of the most mind-numbing, soul-sucking, procrastination-inducing, lonely, repetitive, mentally exhausting activities I do.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#26

Post by jiggy2011 »

jokoon wrote: post #17

Got into a video game programming private school, sneaking into 2nd year directly because I was good, was not accepted for the next year. Apparently, it my fault of not trying to reach out to other people for building that school project. I'm more of an introvert, I was already taking anti depressant for 2 years. I'm at the opposite side of a narcissist. Apparently it's a bad thing in society, but nobody really talk…

Going directly into second year is probably a bad idea from a socialisation point of view. When you turn up in college in year one, nobody knows anybody so people have to form peer groups from scratch, thus it's easy to make new friends.

If you go into second year these peer groups are already established and it becomes harder to slot yourself in.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#27

Post by rhizome »

jokoon wrote: post #17

Got into a video game programming private school, sneaking into 2nd year directly because I was good, was not accepted for the next year. Apparently, it my fault of not trying to reach out to other people for building that school project. I'm more of an introvert, I was already taking anti depressant for 2 years. I'm at the opposite side of a narcissist. Apparently it's a bad thing in society, but nobody really talk…

The school people were idiots, but narcissism doesn't have anything to do with introversion and extroversion.

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#29

Post by JulianRaphael »

I experienced a very similar situation, resulting in a stress-induced tumor and heavy depression. This experience has completely changed my life and I'm incredibly happy that I got a second chance in life to live a better life. These situations happen because people learn and focus on how to manage the outside world but hardly anyone knows how to manage the inner world. Furthermore, most people don't talk about the stress or their fears and thoughts that torture them, not even with their spouses. The bad thing is that you can easily identify the first signs of depression or burnout and counter it with therapeutic measures, yet so many end up completely burned out.

You don't even have to pay a therapist, our minds can be trained to build extremely powerful therapeutic algorithms to avoid these situations. After my experience I quit my job as a business subordinate and started building a tool to help others manage their inner world better so that they hopefully don't end up where I did. Our approach is heavily scientific (we have two ongoing PhD projects to investigate and test our program) and we have just started out.

I'd be happy to connect with anyone who wants to share their experiences and thoughts on this topic. If you feel like it, drop me a line at: julian@appnroll.com If you are stuck in depression or a burnout and feel like breaking down, please don't hesitate to contact me, too - sometimes you just need to talk to someone. Hang in there!

Re: Developer depression: Isolation is the biggest problem (2012)

#30

Post by marincounty »

gknoy wrote: post #18
_random_ wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It also helps if there are no boring bring-lunch-from-home types.

If bringing your team together is the goal, it cannot be served by labeling those who choose to bring a lunch as "boring types". I know my feelings would be hurt if my coworkers decided to exclude me for that reason. How does bringing lunch from home prevent team lunches? If it's scheduled ahead of time, it's easy to bring less. One might even be able to justify budgeting N lunches/month out with coworkers. Also, lun…

I like the way you think!
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