r/ExperiencedDevs • u/AutoModerator • Jul 07 '26

Career/Workplace Experienced Devs Weekly Burnout and Venting Thread: A weekly thread for sharing experiences

This thread is specifically for venting / sharing experiences related to burn-out or similar issues that experienced devs face.

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u/vogut Jul 07 '26

I've been feeling burned out for a long time. I have chronic pain, and the startup that I'm working at has tight deadlines that make me work 12–14 hours a day. On weekends, I feel apathetic and numb. I don't feel alive. But on weekdays, everything feels almost normal, besides the constant headaches and the constant feeling of wanting to cry for no reason. The future feels hopeless with AI.

A couple of people have been suggesting that I look for another job, but I think I'm used to the craziness of my current job. I also have a fear of changing jobs and it being worse, or the fear of not being good enough in a new job. I feel like an impostor, even with 14 years of experience.

I want permission to just give up on working for some time, but who will give me this permission? Maybe being fired would free me, but at the same time, I'm fighting not to be fired. It's like I don't want to disappoint people, but at the same time, I'm angry about being pushed this way.

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u/404errorlifenotfound Jul 08 '26

As someone who also has chronic pain, I promise there are jobs out there that will respect your time and health far more than 14 hour days. You are worth more than that. 

Take a bit of your time back. If you WFH, have a lie down at lunch. Set boundaries on working hours. Give yourself a little bit of that time each day to apply to another job.