Profiles in Tech, Part V: The Dev Whisperer

For 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.

In a Time of Layoffs, Solutions from a Therapist for Tech

From 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.

“Isn’t It Ironic?” Overcome Ironic Processes to Focus, Improve Sleep, and Heal Trauma.

We all have thoughts that trouble us. Rehashing conversations we’ve had. Feeling badly about ourselves. Worrying about things. The more we try to not think those thoughts, have those emotions, etc., the more they keep coming back. Especially when we’ve been through painful stuff. It’s called “ironic processes of the mind.” The good news: there are ways to overcome this.

What Is Trauma Really? We Misunderstand It, and You’ve Probably Experienced It.

Trauma goes well beyond what we think it is. Unfortunately, when early caregivers are distracted or anxious, or make their child feel badly about emotions that happen naturally, it registers in the brain as traumatic. This leads to patterns that negatively affect us in our relationships, in our work, and in our daily functioning. In this post, we explore things that you wouldn’t expect to be trauma, and what you can do about it.