Intense pressure to get ahead, to avoid layoffs, to afford the high cost of living. The stress and burnout can take its toll, leading to anxiety, depression and trauma. But they’re used to major challenges, having risen to the top in an incredibly competitive academic environment. In this post, we chronicle the mental health challenges that South Asian Americans face in tech, in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Read MoreWe all get triggered. Literally everyone. We find ourselves reacting strongly to something, and it makes us super-anxious, angry, or overwhelmed. I’m sure you know the feeling… your heart starts racing, you can’t think of anything else… it’s like tunnel vision. So what can you do to quickly recover, so it doesn’t wreck your day? It’s a question that comes up so often in EMDR therapy. In this post are 25 easy, practical methods for you to use right away. And better yet, they’re science-based and brain-based. Have at it!
Read MoreFor our fifth installment of “Profiles in Tech,” we meet Ana, a product manager at a mobile app. We hear what it’s like to address a slew of user concerns, dealing with the ever-present pressure to fix everything, like now, like right away. We learn about her awesome ability to pick up on how her developers are feeling, especially the quieter voices. As a reminder, this blog series highlighting the unique mindset of those who work in tech… their outlook, their concerns, and their quest for fulfillment. Each post derives from an interview with an engineer, programmer, or developer in the San Francisco Bay Area, and begins with their story, followed by a few reflections from a mental health perspective.
Read MoreFrom front-end to back-end, from C-level to entry-level programmers, tech workers are worried. And understandably so. Layoffs are still happening, and it’s leading to anxiety, along with longer hours, concerns about whether to look for a new job, and burnout. I recently appeared on a podcast called “The Mental Balance,” in which I offered solutions on how to cope, whether all of this constitutes trauma, and common mental health concerns in the tech world.
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