Profiles in Tech, Part V: The Dev Whisperer

For our fifth installment of “Profiles in Tech,” we meet Ana, a product manager at a mobile app. We hear what it’s like to address a slew of user concerns, dealing with the ever-present pressure to fix everything, like now, like right away. We learn about her awesome ability to pick up on how her developers are feeling, especially the quieter voices. As a reminder, this blog series highlighting the unique mindset of those who work in tech… their outlook, their concerns, and their quest for fulfillment. Each post derives from an interview with an engineer, programmer, or developer in the San Francisco Bay Area, and begins with their story, followed by a few reflections from a mental health perspective.

techiesAndrew KushnickDecember 21, 2023attunement, burnout, communication, technology

What Is Trauma Really? We Misunderstand It, and You’ve Probably Experienced It.

Trauma goes well beyond what we think it is. Unfortunately, when early caregivers are distracted or anxious, or make their child feel badly about emotions that happen naturally, it registers in the brain as traumatic. This leads to patterns that negatively affect us in our relationships, in our work, and in our daily functioning. In this post, we explore things that you wouldn’t expect to be trauma, and what you can do about it.

5 More Cheesy Relationship Analogies That Every Couple Should Know

It all started with “5 Cheesy Relationship Analogies That Every Couple Should Know.” Analogies that were totally cheesy, but easy to remember. When you’re in an argument with your significant other, higher brain function can be hard to come by. Anything you can remember from therapy is likely to help. Since then, couples have told me that they’re using some of ‘em successfully, but not every analogy resonates with everyone. Clearly, a sequel was necessary. So try them out, and see if you can steer your relationship towards peace.

A couples therapist’s take on song lyrics that you know

Your favorite song’s playing, and you’re singing along. Are you stopping to think about the lyrics? Probably not, if you’re like most of us. Our favorite artists write about love, sex, infatuation, heartache, jealousy, etc. After repeated listens, their words wind up being stored in our motor memory. We might subconsciously come to regard it with unquestioning deference. With the health of your love life in mind, I’ve taken the liberty of offering a couples therapist’s take on song lyrics that you know. [God help us all.]