In my experience, the negative thoughts and stress is associated with pressure to complete the task. This is relateable with most larger tasks (i.e. essay writ

In my experience, the negative thoughts and stress is associated with pressure to complete the task. This is relateable with most larger tasks (i.e. essay writing). I think it's two fold, first off, in engineering, nobody wants you to complete a problem 100%, rather solve it 25% but that solution is quite clear. Then you solve 25% again which was way easier after you solved the first 25%. This way it's easier for people around you to chime in with hints or to get an overview of the task / gain insight that the problem is not defined correctly. It's an iterative process! Second, the negative thoughts you face is not that uncommon, doing something you have no clue how to solve is difficult. Instead of trying to solve the problem, think about what strategy you should have solving the problem, in your CS degree you have lot's of tools for that if you look back. Avoiding the fear of not completing is a good way to actually complete, that's my motto anyway. A good way to get on your feet(motivation wise) is to do easier things for a while, also something that really motivate. Maybe there's someone you know that have a problem that you can solve. If you feel that problems are too tough to do, pick something easier to get the flow going again. The most important thing is to feel good! Like the most upvoted answer said, chill out. Increasing the pressure is not the answer. If it's anywhere near what my SO had, Yoga/structured days(doing something 1h, taking a walk, doing something 1h...)/dark rooms. The stress is real and should not be ignored. Getting a job that's completely off the field is not a bad thing either, you got yourself a CS degree, which you always will have in your back pocket. Doing something else will make you able to combine that degree with other work experience. And everyone else will think about you as a super human that actually get's computers ;)