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Re:Ask HN: How do I switch from being a passive consumer to ... by algesten on Sunday May 21, 2017 @04:08PM (#14388988)
Quite certain it is positive stress.

It's hard to describe, but I can quite easily get "into the flow". This is where I focus on a single project, time cease to exist and I just become one with the code. I can focus on coding for hours and hours without break. In fact, lunch and toilet breaks are irritating distractions. I can go to sleep at night uneasy about something I'm not exactly sure about and suddenly the solution strikes me when I'm half awake in the shower next morning.

I don't use much caffeine, a bit of coffee in the morning, rarely in the afternoon – however I do know that coffee and alcohol makes my condition worse.

It's totally engulfing and extremely productive. This _is_ the mythical man month that people talk about. Only. For me it takes a toll. It's not about any underlying stress like "I won't make it in time". My work is luckily such that I don't have much pressure. It's being "in the zone" that is the problem.

The "flow state". I love it yet mustn't overdo it.

Re:Ask HN: How do I switch from being a passive consumer to ... by andrewem on Sunday May 21, 2017 @04:43PM (#14389154)
I'm no doctor, but your description plus your use of the word "condition" makes me wonder if what you experience is hypomania.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomania

Re:Ask HN: How do I switch from being a passive consumer to ... by ambicapter on Sunday May 21, 2017 @06:05PM (#14389505)
I don't think you need to label this as a condition. I can remember when I used to get into those states. Sadly, it was an artifact of my youth.

I probably would be able to get back into that state if I somehow managed to get all my responsibilities squared away for large periods of time-or alternately, convince myself thoroughly enough to ignore them.