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Ask HN: How do I write code as quickly as I used to?

Hi HN! I've been a "programmer" since I was 10 years old, basically by copy&pasting other people's code and making it do what I want... I was published in the national Serbian newspapers and was bullied heavily for being a "liar", a "fraud", a "thief", etc., and received death threats. Since then my anxiety levels have been rising and my code quality has been dropping (well, relatively speaking, compared to what I did back then it's much improved but not as much as it could've) and my code output has been dropping as well. I'm 17 now, soon to turn 18, but I can barely work 2 hours a day on something, when before I could and would sit at the computer for 24 hours and finish a project in one siting, without sleep or eating. Nowdays I just waste my time reading blogs and not learning anything and I've become really depressed. Occasionally, I get a huge rush of motivation and I finish a project and earn some money for example for a MacBook Air which I've always wanted and now have, but I then regress back into the depressed state. I have also become very asocial and don't leave my house frequently, and find it difficult to go to school where I'm bullied and judged for things that I wish not share, and I only go to school to do exams and then I go back home and barely study, my grades are terrible and... Help me HN. Please note, I am going to a therapist but he's not helping and is quite useless and expensive. He's in the capital city of Serbia and I live quite far away so it's expensive to travel.

drKarl 9y ago
Well, those alternate states of depression and euphoria sound like bipolar disorder, so it's probably a good idea to continue with the therapist. Copy pasting code is a start, as long as you understand the code, but it's good that you moved past that. You're still young, so if you want to be a programmer you're in a good position to improve. You can read some books, learn best practices, design patterns, depending on your programming language of choice studying for a certification will give a solid foundation and confidence. Then you can build something with everything you've learned.
- milankragujevic 9y ago
  Hi! Thanks for your comment. Yes I am staying with the therapist. I meant I used to c&p code when I was 10, nowadays I do it all myself and avoid using existing code for fear of being called a fraud.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
coralreef 9y ago
Sometimes you need time way from the computer, and to dive your mind into other things. Consider taking up sports / martial arts, it will give you a chance to build other skills and socialize in a different setting.

drKarl 9y ago

Well, those alternate states of depression and euphoria sound like bipolar disorder, so it's probably a good idea to continue with the therapist. Copy pasting code is a start, as long as you understand the code, but it's good that you moved past that. You're still young, so if you want to be a programmer you're in a good position to improve. You can read some books, learn best practices, design patterns, depending on your programming language of choice studying for a certification will give a solid foundation and confidence. Then you can build something with everything you've learned.

milankragujevic 9y ago
Hi! Thanks for your comment. Yes I am staying with the therapist. I meant I used to c&p code when I was 10, nowadays I do it all myself and avoid using existing code for fear of being called a fraud.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]

coralreef 9y ago

Sometimes you need time way from the computer, and to dive your mind into other things. Consider taking up sports / martial arts, it will give you a chance to build other skills and socialize in a different setting.