121 karma · joined January 2, 2017
You should be introvert by choice, not for some crypling fear and stereotypes. There is nothing worse to discover late in life, that you are actually extrovert.
Social interactions are easy, but it is hard to see through smoke screen. There are books which deconstruct and explain interactions word by word. There are drugs which temporary bypass anxiety.
Do not listen to people who say it is cool to be introvert (and have even playlist for introverts).
Feynman bio is a good start
For example I have simple exercise routine I do every evening. It is just stuff I do before shower and bed. I also stopped driving in narrow city roads, I leave a car at motorway exit and walk last mile.
Forget self-help stuff. It is really just basics; fix your sleep, health, sex, community you live in...
For programming I follow simple TDD routine (and other simple best practices). And I do not do anything else at computer except making money. Today is an exception, I have 2 hours a week for facebook and news ;-)
Before stress started I had almost photographic memory. I was not very smart software developer. But ability to recall patterns and documentation fast, made me very productive. I worked at CS semi-research position and spoke at conference every other month.
Now it takes mental effort to recall what I did 4 hours ago. I can only program if I strictly follow my TDD routine and design notes. Recently I could not even pass job interview for trivial entry level position :(
Stress is mostly gone now, but it will take about one year to recover. It is very weird period. People, who do not know me well, think I actually improved over past three years. I fixed my health, lifestyle, social interactions...; I took every advantage I could to compensate for damage caused by stress.
Now, I can feel improvements every week, and I am basically starting from scratch. Once I get my old memory back and combine it with new things I learned to cope, I will be unstoppable :)