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A little bit unrelated, but does anyone else get severe anxiety reading articles like this? I’m currently employed in a well-paying tech job, but it always see

A little bit unrelated, but does anyone else get severe anxiety reading articles like this? I’m currently employed in a well-paying tech job, but it always seems like I’m just one giant disaster away from this kind of thing. Granted, I have a family “safety net” to fall back on in a worst case scenario, which I realize a lot of people don’t have, but it’s always in the back of my mind that the economy could crash, that my skills are suddenly not in demand, or some weird health insurance disaster wipes out my retirement savings. I constantly feel like I need to save up as much money as possible to reach financial independence as quickly as I can so that I’m prepared for some kind of unforeseen catastrophe.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
perfmode 8y ago
Yes. I won’t survive a perfect storm.
- TomMckenny 8y ago
  It need not be perfect, we're all one modest car accident away from a life on the streets.
MIKarlsen 8y ago
I'm a big worrier myself, and these thoughts often get the better of me. I have been unemployed for a couple of months last year, and although I live in a scandinavian country, it was still tough to see others in the same situation struggling. I think society has a great responsibility in educating citizens correctly. A lot of the people I met had no grasp of technology, or its role in society, which is a big warning-light in my eyes. Everyone is saying "AI and robotics wont take your job", but it absolutely will, as the jobs the new industry creates seems to be STEM-jobs that require long STEM-educations - something not everyone is cut out for. I feel like we're yet to see the full consequence of technology's role in our society, and I fear that we will end up with a big chunk of people who cannot actively contribute to the workforce.
djrobstep 8y ago
One of the big advantages of having a good welfare state is that (apart from lower inequality and dignity for all) people just worry less!
B-Con 8y ago
Not severe, but every so often I am reminded of the big picture of life. So many industries, economies, societies, nations, etc, have been upended throughout, leaving large numbers of well-meaning relatively prepared people in ruin. I'm happy that the money is flowing into tech. But on the same token, maaaaybe it's a bubble? My brain won't dismiss that thought. I think the fundamental lesson is that we can't take anything for granted, and the stability of the tech industry is just one of those things. Nothing guarantees the USD (my currency) won't plummet, the housing market won't implode, another financial crisis caused by psychopathic bankers won't happen, or ISIS won't nuke NYC. It's part of "growing up", too. When you're young and have a decent set of middle class parents, you see the world as being very reliable and rigid. Thing are they way they are and you can depend on them. The grown ups take care of stuff, they practically make magic happen. As you age, you see strong things now that didn't exist before, and weak things now that were strong before. You keep seeing the world as more fluid. And you learn about all the crap that's hit other people and you know, deep down, you weren't born specially exempt from it. The people who "take care of these things"? They're your peers. They can't work magic. And if they understand their job as well as you understand yours, things start to feel uncomfortably like a house of cards. But hey, Netflix has a new season of $popularShow. That and a refreshing beverage sound like a good way to spend the evening.
- scruple 8y ago
  > Netflix has a new season of $popularShow. That and a refreshing beverage sound like a good way to spend the evening. And that's a good way to spend a Saturday evening. It's also also not an excuse to not prepare for the future.
  - B-Con 8y ago
    Right, it's more commentary on how much of our society is built around ignoring life's pressures.
phry 8y ago
absolutely, and the scary thing is that > I’m just one giant disaster away from this kind of thing. this is true for the vast majority of Americans, given that somewhere between 60-70% have less than $1000 in savings https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/18/few-americans-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-1000-emergency.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/18/few-americans-have-enough-sa...
- astrodust 8y ago
  I'm sure most Americans have "savings" in the form of "maybe I can beg and plead for a credit limit increase if something really bad happens".
ams6110 8y ago
Welcome to being a grown-up. These worries have been part of being a responsible adult for forever.
f34 8y ago
I was wiped out back in 2017. I was a web developer living in Dallas and making 90K a year. My manager and I didn't get along and I eventually ended up on a PIP. After 30 days I realized I wasn't going to meet the PIP goals and resigned before being fired. I wasn't worried, I had about 50K in cash and 20K in credit, and I surly could find a job before it ran out. I was wrong. I got very few interviews and when I did, they were more fit than technology focused. I might as well have picked a number between 1 and 100 to decide the interview. There comes a point when you go into emergency mode and start planning for the worst. We made it to tax season and got our return. we bought a used car and moved to Tulsa, Ok for the cheaper rent. I had also spent 20 years there when I was younger and felt confident I could find a development or any job. It didn't go as planned. I got plenty of interviews, but none panned out. Many employers questioned my time without a job and I think that and my rusting skills keep me unemployed. Hell, I can't even get a blue-collar job. And it didn't help that the used car broke down and I had to walk and ride public buses every where. Now my wife works for $8.50 an hour at a diner and that's what we make it on. I'm in a worse position than before I went to college and it makes me bitter about life, people, hiring practices, and that so much depends on luck and timing. So yeah, you never know what's coming. Save all you can and keep working towards financial independence, which is the only real guarantee.
- driverdan 8y ago
  How are you applying for jobs? Are you spraying and praying or are you going to meetups and such to network and get recommendations? Cold resumes won't get nearly as far as a recommendation. Have you applied to remote jobs? Contract jobs? Looked for freelance work?
  - thatoneuser 8y ago
    I'll be real, it sounds like you're giving the generic "I just Googled how to get a job" advice and in my personal experience - this kind of advice rarely accomplishes anything and leaves you more distraught than before.
    - dabockster 8y ago
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

perfmode 8y ago

Yes. I won’t survive a perfect storm.

TomMckenny 8y ago
It need not be perfect, we're all one modest car accident away from a life on the streets.

MIKarlsen 8y ago

I'm a big worrier myself, and these thoughts often get the better of me. I have been unemployed for a couple of months last year, and although I live in a scandinavian country, it was still tough to see others in the same situation struggling. I think society has a great responsibility in educating citizens correctly. A lot of the people I met had no grasp of technology, or its role in society, which is a big warning-light in my eyes. Everyone is saying "AI and robotics wont take your job", but it absolutely will, as the jobs the new industry creates seems to be STEM-jobs that require long STEM-educations - something not everyone is cut out for. I feel like we're yet to see the full consequence of technology's role in our society, and I fear that we will end up with a big chunk of people who cannot actively contribute to the workforce.

djrobstep 8y ago

One of the big advantages of having a good welfare state is that (apart from lower inequality and dignity for all) people just worry less!

B-Con 8y ago

Not severe, but every so often I am reminded of the big picture of life. So many industries, economies, societies, nations, etc, have been upended throughout, leaving large numbers of well-meaning relatively prepared people in ruin. I'm happy that the money is flowing into tech. But on the same token, maaaaybe it's a bubble? My brain won't dismiss that thought. I think the fundamental lesson is that we can't take anything for granted, and the stability of the tech industry is just one of those things. Nothing guarantees the USD (my currency) won't plummet, the housing market won't implode, another financial crisis caused by psychopathic bankers won't happen, or ISIS won't nuke NYC. It's part of "growing up", too. When you're young and have a decent set of middle class parents, you see the world as being very reliable and rigid. Thing are they way they are and you can depend on them. The grown ups take care of stuff, they practically make magic happen. As you age, you see strong things now that didn't exist before, and weak things now that were strong before. You keep seeing the world as more fluid. And you learn about all the crap that's hit other people and you know, deep down, you weren't born specially exempt from it. The people who "take care of these things"? They're your peers. They can't work magic. And if they understand their job as well as you understand yours, things start to feel uncomfortably like a house of cards. But hey, Netflix has a new season of $popularShow. That and a refreshing beverage sound like a good way to spend the evening.

scruple 8y ago
> Netflix has a new season of $popularShow. That and a refreshing beverage sound like a good way to spend the evening. And that's a good way to spend a Saturday evening. It's also also not an excuse to not prepare for the future.
- B-Con 8y ago
  Right, it's more commentary on how much of our society is built around ignoring life's pressures.

phry 8y ago

absolutely, and the scary thing is that > I’m just one giant disaster away from this kind of thing. this is true for the vast majority of Americans, given that somewhere between 60-70% have less than $1000 in savings https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/18/few-americans-have-enough-savings-to-cover-a-1000-emergency.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/18/few-americans-have-enough-sa...

astrodust 8y ago
I'm sure most Americans have "savings" in the form of "maybe I can beg and plead for a credit limit increase if something really bad happens".

ams6110 8y ago

Welcome to being a grown-up. These worries have been part of being a responsible adult for forever.

f34 8y ago

I was wiped out back in 2017. I was a web developer living in Dallas and making 90K a year. My manager and I didn't get along and I eventually ended up on a PIP. After 30 days I realized I wasn't going to meet the PIP goals and resigned before being fired. I wasn't worried, I had about 50K in cash and 20K in credit, and I surly could find a job before it ran out. I was wrong. I got very few interviews and when I did, they were more fit than technology focused. I might as well have picked a number between 1 and 100 to decide the interview. There comes a point when you go into emergency mode and start planning for the worst. We made it to tax season and got our return. we bought a used car and moved to Tulsa, Ok for the cheaper rent. I had also spent 20 years there when I was younger and felt confident I could find a development or any job. It didn't go as planned. I got plenty of interviews, but none panned out. Many employers questioned my time without a job and I think that and my rusting skills keep me unemployed. Hell, I can't even get a blue-collar job. And it didn't help that the used car broke down and I had to walk and ride public buses every where. Now my wife works for $8.50 an hour at a diner and that's what we make it on. I'm in a worse position than before I went to college and it makes me bitter about life, people, hiring practices, and that so much depends on luck and timing. So yeah, you never know what's coming. Save all you can and keep working towards financial independence, which is the only real guarantee.

driverdan 8y ago
How are you applying for jobs? Are you spraying and praying or are you going to meetups and such to network and get recommendations? Cold resumes won't get nearly as far as a recommendation. Have you applied to remote jobs? Contract jobs? Looked for freelance work?
- thatoneuser 8y ago
  I'll be real, it sounds like you're giving the generic "I just Googled how to get a job" advice and in my personal experience - this kind of advice rarely accomplishes anything and leaves you more distraught than before.
  - dabockster 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]