I think programming has made me abnormal
Posted by PooningDalton@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 18 comments
Been programming for the past 6 years. Been at it all day every day. I think its changed me to the point that if I do anything that requires little brain processing, I immediately fall into existential dread.
Like if I'm on a bus, I won't just stare out the window anymore. I'll immediately get depressed, knowing I can use the time to do someting productive.
Its reached a point where even driving on a straight road feels existentially depressing lol
Anyone else have this? Or is it just me and my ADHD brain?
KandevDev@reddit
the pattern you are describing is "in flow state means everything else feels empty". it is normal for people who do high-engagement deep work. the fix is not less programming, it is better mental compartmentalization. when you are not coding, deliberately do something else hard - reading, sports, anything that uses brain in a different mode. binary "all coding or zero thinking" creates the dread. variety of cognitive tasks does not.
PooningDalton@reddit (OP)
Makes sense. Cause when I was a kid, I used to like video games. Now I don't because most of them are boring.
rustyseapants@reddit
What does this have to do with learning to program?
PooningDalton@reddit (OP)
I heard from somewhere that once you start to think like a programmer, your entire outlook on life changes. You start to see inefficiences everywhere.
Big-Revolution3842@reddit
This sounds like you need therapy brah. Not coding related
alaughingkitsune@reddit
Claude code is refusing to work with my project: https://github.com/choices-project
aimed at providing a level playing field and overthrowing this duopoly nightnmare. Can any coders offer suggestions how to unfuck this? I've some rudimentary understanding of python but behold what I've learned in the process of getting this far (it's all freemium ware, sorry im poor) so probably not running right now. working on it \^_\^
loophole64@reddit
Programming every day didn’t make you abnormal. You program every day because you’re abnormal. 🙂
Learn to take a break and accept downtime. Unproductive time will give you anxiety until you accept that they are ok. Practice some mindfulness to learn to be ok being bored, disconnected, or just present.
https://youtu.be/7Fc1IbptxkI?si=0sj_h346pAsP0s4Y
Nakasje@reddit
Ride bicycle.
syklemil@reddit
Yeah, physical activity is a requirement for human bodies, and sitting at a desk programming really doesn't feed that beast. And then we wind up feeling like shit without really knowing why.
0dev0100@reddit
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax and recover. If you don't, then you'll really suffer because of it.
vayqar@reddit
Toxic productivity culture, carefully created by the corporate world.
Spending time with friends reduces the stress and anxiety. But it so unproductive. A waste of time.
BasedZhang@reddit
Sounds like you're trying to min/max everything in life. Eventually, you just gotta find your happy place and be ok with where you're at and what you have and just relax.
Also, if you have health insurance, might be worth talking with a psychologist. They can help you work through these thoughts way better than reddit ever can.
Kill-Switch-OG@reddit
Hey, been going thru some personal shit. Got a job recently but not doing great financially. You said talking to a psych via Health Insurance? Are there insurances like such? Thanks!
BasedZhang@reddit
Yep. If you have basic health insurance, it may cover part or all of your psychologist appointments. I would just log in to your account and check what your plan covers and which doctors are in-network.
Kill-Switch-OG@reddit
I haven't bought one yet, I'd rather buy which has it. Where to get the insurance from? I explored policybazaar a bit.
TimePiccolo2565@reddit
yeah I feel this hard - after years of coding my brain just can't handle downtime anymore, always feels like I should be optimizing something or learning new framework
the therapy suggestion is solid though, helped me realize that constantly being "productive" isn't actually sustainable in long run
intbeam@reddit
Yes
rocketbunny77@reddit
Yeah. It probably just highlighted preexisting "issues" though. Not necessarily the cause