Hey everyone, I could really use your advice. I used to feel pretty confident in my programming skills, being familiar with languages like Java, Python, C#, and JavaScript, as well as frameworks such as Django, Spring, Vue, and WPF. However, after dropping out of school, a combination of pressure, financial troubles, and mental health issues led me to stop programming altogether. Now, every time I try to get back into it—just building simple console applications, for instance—I feel scared and overwhelmed. It's as if everything I learned has vanished, and I just freeze in front of a blank project in VS Code. I've tried watching tutorials to refresh my memory and even attempted starting my projects, but nothing seems to work; I find myself easily distracted. This struggle has been going on for about two years. I really want to learn programming again—I still have a vision of creating cool projects that can help people. Any advice on how to move forward?
5 Answers
Feeling frozen after a break is completely normal! Nothing’s gone; it’s just a matter of easing back into it. Try picking a single language to focus on and start with something super simple, like a loop or a print statement. Once you get that small win, your anxiety should lessen a bit, and you can slowly expand from there.
Have you thought about what kind of project you want to build? It can help to focus on something specific. Just start small; even the tiniest effort can build momentum and help you feel less overwhelmed. It's totally normal to feel this way after a long break, just keep taking baby steps and you’ll gradually get back into a rhythm.
You might want to consider joining a community of programmers. Being around others can motivate you and ease the pressure. It's a great way to share experiences and gain support.
This sounds interesting! I haven't tried it yet, but it definitely seems like it could help.
If you're looking for a resource to help you get back on track, check out "Confident Coding" by Rob Percival. It offers a solid breakdown of coding basics and includes practical exercises, which could be really effective for you. Also, check out [exercism.org](https://exercism.org/) and [roadmap.sh](https://roadmap.sh/) for more structured learning paths!
The best way to get past that fear is to just dive in and start, even if it’s a tiny task. Don’t stress about getting everything right; just take it one step at a time, and you’ll likely accomplish way more than you expect.
I worry about whether I'm learning the right things, so I totally get that! I’ve explored topics that ended up being less relevant, and it felt like a waste. Having a roadmap can really help guide your learning.
I’m really interested in mobile apps too! I tend to overthink everything, even the tech stack I should use for the backend, even though I feel like I’ve forgotten so much.