How to overcome being complete frozen? – You Can Do This!

Hi!

I’m new to learning code, I just started about a month ago a career path to become a Full Stack Dev. I went through HTML and some CSS, which I still struggle with and the games they recommend I don’t even understand them and they are supposed to help you.

I’m learning JavaScript and just the basics have taken me more than 3 weeks. I go through the lessons and they sorta make sense but at the moment to do the challanges I read the instructions and none of it makes sense, I just don’t know where to start and freeze out completely.

I’m afraid this isn’t for me. I’m crying everyday because I can’t resolve the challenges nor even start to think about a solution. I don’t want to give up but I’m in my thirties trying to get a better job and overall life but I don’t feel smart enough. I’m trying to study 5-6 hours a days because I quit my job to dedicate my full time to this and finish my career path in 6 months but I feel overwhelmed and sometimes I just stare at the screen for hours not knowing what to do and I feel like guilty that I did not accomplish much during the day and I’m wasting my time.

Is it possible to overcome these feelings? I’m thinking about getting a job again and just dedicate a couple of hours a day and take maybe a year to complete this or should I stick to my original plan.

Please any reassurance or advice would be appreciated. Also be honest if you think I’m not cut for this please say so because I don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

Thank you again and I’m sorry for the long post and if this is something that has been already asked and answered.

Personally I would say the biggest issue is you making yourself feel guilty and that you’re wasting your time. Not everything comes super fast, some people it takes longer. I’m on the same journey as you and I’m enjoying it and taking my time. You’re bold enough to try something new and that’s something to be proud of!

I find something that helps is to also to some coding challenges on codewars or leetcode. You might not be able to solve them yourself but knowing where to look, and then seeing code again and again helps build the skills up.

Unsure how you go about with trying to solve problems but maybe try and re-write the question into your own words first. Just pick it apart bit by bit. Whats the first thing that needs to be done? How would you achieve this? Could be multiple ways. Search online also for some ideas. Then the next step.

Be flexible with what you feel is right. To have inflexible goals leaves much more pressure on you and then that just adds to your frustrating, your worry, and then not being able to focus. It’s a vicious circle. Anything new, you need to be in a good headspace to properly learn material.

It’s all a journey and sometimes it won’t be easy, don’t give up and believe in yourself, you can do it!

Thank you so much for your kind words… it’s very hard to not preasure yourself when you feel like there is so much at stake.

“try and re-write the question into your own words first. Just pick it apart bit by bit. Whats the first thing that needs to be done? How would you achieve this? Could be multiple ways. Search online also for some ideas. Then the next step.”

This is something that I want to implement, I appreciate the advice… and I will give it try.

Thank you again.

It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated when learning something new, especially coding. It’s a complex skill that takes time and practice to master. It sounds like you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself to progress quickly, which can make the process even more challenging.

Firstly, take a deep breath and remember that it’s okay to struggle. Everyone faces obstacles when learning to code, regardless of age or background. It doesn’t mean you’re not smart enough or cut out for this—it just means you’re learning.

Here are a few suggestions to help you overcome these feelings:

1. Break it Down: Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, break the challenges into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on understanding each concept before moving on to the next.

2. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your coding skills. Try to code a little bit every day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. Over time, you’ll see progress.

3. Seek Help: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you’re stuck. There are plenty of online resources, forums, and communities where you can ask questions and get support from experienced developers.

4. Be Patient and Kind to Yourself: Learning to code is a journey, and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. Celebrate your small victories, and don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go as planned.

5. Consider Adjusting Your Schedule: If studying 5-6 hours a day is leaving you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, it might be worth reevaluating your study plan. Quality over quantity is important when it comes to learning. Perhaps dedicating a couple of hours a day while working part-time could be a more sustainable approach for you.

Remember, it’s okay to take breaks and give yourself time to rest and recharge. Learning to code is a marathon, not a sprint. With perseverance and dedication, you’ll get there. Don’t give up—you’ve got this!
@MarissaKundera

100% I think everyone struggles with it and it’s not an easy thing to overcome but to put more pressure on yourself makes everything harder! Focus on the great and incredible things you are doing instead of the negatives.

Just seeing more code will always get you more familiar with it. When you do search stuff, make sure you try and understand it also. Go through a which ever debugger you have are using for JS and see what values go where.

ChatGPT or other AI can also help explain stuff to you. Can always try and lean on that for answers also.

Best of luck and stay positive.

Hi @MarissaKundera welcome to the freeCodeCamp forum!

I’m sorry you are feeling this way, but don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s perfectly normal to feel frustrated when things don’t work the way we want, but let me offer some advice to you.

1. Software Development/coding is hard and it takes time. A few weeks of learning often aren’t enough for things to start making sense. I’m not saying this to discourage you, rather I want you give a more realistic view of things.

2. Usually this “phase” can last for quite few months for some people (it took me like 6-7 months). Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by our expectations, but I encourage you to persist for a little longer.

3. Different people have different learning styles, maybe the way projects are design here are not the best for your, personally (this is actually my case). FreeCodeCamp have a “learn by doing it” style. Try searching for youtube tutorials, maybe with people who explain the concepts to you and kind of walk you throughout the project.

4. You’ve mentioned about getting a better career and a better life. First of all, let me congratulate you on you decision and for your courage to seek a better life. I’m on a very similar path. I’m 29 and I had a HARD time learning basic JavaScript at the beginning, today I can work with Angular (a framework) at an intermediate level. So things can work out for you.

5. Another point is, this is a field that takes time. It’s not uncommon to find people who study for 1~2 years before getting a job at it. I would suggest you to not rely solely on getting a job on software development so soon. Maybe having a job or part time job will help you financially and mentally too, so you don’t get carried away by your own mind and/or feelings.

6. Don’t be afraid to make decisions and mistakes. Sometimes mistakes happen, they are part of life. Tech is a very broad field, so try to expose yourself to other areas too, hardware, AI, IT support… I’m not saying to go deep on them, but at least be aware that not everything is coding

7. Finally, you are the one in charge of your life. Ultimately you are the one that have to choose. Other people can share their experience and their opinion, but the one who knows what is best for you is yourself, so take everything said here with a grain of salt. Take this as a blessing, no one knows your situation better than you (I’m a Christian, so I would put God here too), so you are the main protagonist of your life!

Sorry for the giant wall of text. Feel free to comment on anything I said here. God bless you!

Thank you so much for the advice. I appreciate that you have taken the time to provide me with suggestions and reassurance.

I’m looking for a part time job and decreasing the amount of hours I’m studying because I’m exhausted and frustrated and I might benefit from dedicating less time but with a better attitude.

I guess I just put too much expectations on myself.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me and knowing that someone is going through the same journey as I am gives me hopes because you do sound very wise and has given me a good insight.

I actually became interested in DA as well so I might give that a try to0… I’m going to take the preasure of myself and get a partime job so I can dedicate my mind into other things so I distract myself and maybe I will feel like coding it’s for my free time.

Thank you for everything.

I think it’s a great idea! I struggle really hard with depression personally, and sometimes I can get completely overwhelmed by negative feelings. Having a job or other activities may help you with your frustration as well! Besides, earning money is always a good xD

Take pleasure on learning, not only about tech/coding but also about life and human beings too, including yourself.

Sometimes our minds can be more like enemy than a friend, so be aware of thoughts and don’t be afraid to seek help from a family member, friends or other people!