[bluefirebrand]

My cushy software job has burned me out so badly that I am on medical leave with massive memory problems and a bit of concern about my heart

So I mean... Yeah

Is software more comfortable generally than many other lines of work? Yes probably

Is it always soft and cushy? No, not at all. It is often high pressure and high stress

[furyofantares]

I'm sorry for implying there can't be hardship (significant, even devastating) in this line of work. Thanks for posting about your experience.

[griffiths]

What kind of massive memory problems? I might have this but didn't think to attribute it to burnout.

[ModernMech]

When I burned out I experienced skill regression and short term memory loss. Like, an inability to remember specific events of the day before, inability to perform skills I had done for decades like play an instrument. Took over a year to stabilize and return to normal.

[bluefirebrand]

Yes, this is extremely similar to my experience

I cannot remember events, conversations, or details about important things. I have partially lost my ability to code, because I get partway through implementing a feature and forget what pieces I've done and which pieces still need to be done

I can still write it, but the quality of my work has plummeted, which is part of why I'm off on leave now

[ModernMech]

Hang in there, it gets better and the skills come back. From my github:

  2,350 contributions in 2021
  2,661 contributions in 2022
  381 contributions in 2023 <--- burnout
  794 contributions in 2024 <--- recovery
  1,632 contributions in 2025 (so far)

My recovery took about 18 months. It took time, and a lot of rest. I'd have to sleep like 12 hours a day sometimes.

[bluefirebrand]

Thank you for the kind encouragement

I hope my recovery doesn't take that long, but if it does it does

I would rather give myself the space and time to really get better, rather than simply rush back to work and burn out again

[cultofmetatron]

was going through something similar. here's my anti burnout protocol thats kept me functional all the way to my current position as founder and CTO of a profitable startup.

1. 1 tablespoon of cold extracted cod liver oil EVERY MORNING

2. 30 min of running 3-4 times a week

3. 2-3 weight lifting sessions every week

4. regular walks.

5. cross train on different intellectually stimulating subjects. doing the same cognitive tasks over and over is like repetive motion on your muscles

6. regularly scheduled "fallow mind time." I set aside an 30 min to an hour everyday to just sit in a chair and let my mind wander. its not meditation. I jsut sit and let my mind drift to whatever it wants.

7. while it should be avoided, in the event that you have to crunch, RESPECT THE COOLDOWN. take downtime after. don't let your nontechnical leads talk you out of it. thinking hard for extended periods of time requires appropriate recovery.

the human brain is a complex system and while we think of our mind as abstract and immaterial, it is in reality a whole lot of physical systems that grow, change and use resources the same way any other physical system in your body does. just like muscles need to recover after a workout to get stronger, so too does your brain after extended periods of deep thinking.

[griffiths]

Mine is more of a long term memory loss. Inability to recall some memorable events from months or even a year ago. I’ll definitely check or go talk with someone.

[mrbombastic]

Also asking for a friend…

[bluefirebrand]

Really sorry to hear that

All I can suggest is see a doctor as soon as possible and talk to them about it

[bluefirebrand]

Difficult to explain because it's inconsistent

But I am struggling to remember things I did not used to struggle with

Going to an event on a weekend with my wife and completely forgetting that we ran into a friend there. Not just "oh yeah I forgot we saw them", like feeling my wife is lying to me when she tells me we saw them. Texting them to ask and they agree we saw each other

These are people I trust with my life so I believe they would not gaslight me, my own memory has just failed

Many examples like this, just completely blacking out things. Not forgetting everything, but blacking out large pieces of my daily life. Even big things

[politician]

FWIW, I am not your doctor: Taking a daily antioxidant, glutathione, has helped me manage memory-related symptoms that appeared coincident with other burnout symptoms.

Disclaimer: talk to your doctor. I don’t know if your doctor can tell you whether this is a good idea, but it might help in some countries with good medical systems.

[bluefirebrand]

I might as well ask my doctor about it, thanks