From Games to Code: Breaking Free from Discord to Find My True Path
Introduction
At 15, I discovered that C++ was the language behind the games I loved playing. My friends warned me it was “impossible to understand,” which deterred me for an entire year. Looking back, I realize how much that single discouragement cost me. This blog post shares my journey from being a distracted gamer to finding purpose through programming, and how I eventually identified and broke free from a toxic pattern of social media addiction that was hindering my growth.
My Background
I was just a typical teenager who loved playing video games. Every time I launched a game, I had this nagging feeling that I was wasting time, enjoying temporary fun but not building toward anything meaningful. Deep down, I knew I needed to do something more with my life.
At 16, I made what I now consider the best decision of my young life: I decided to learn C++. This choice would set me on a path filled with challenges, distractions, and ultimately, clarity about what truly matters.
The Discord Trap: What I Wish I’d Known First
The most important warning I can give: Real-time chat platforms like Discord create an illusion of productivity while actually draining your focus and learning capacity.
When I started learning programming, I naturally gravitated toward Discord communities to get help. What began as seeking programming assistance quickly evolved into something far more insidious, an addiction that would take years to recognize and overcome.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I joined those programming Discord servers:
- Discord creates dopamine-driven learning patterns that prioritize quick answers over deep understanding
- Real-time conversations feel productive but they fragment your attention and prevent the struggle that leads to genuine learning
- The constant notifications and social validation become more appealing than the harder work of reading documentation or solving problems independently
- It’s incredibly difficult to recognize the addiction while you’re in it, I spent years in denial
I would spend 70% of my free time on Discord rather than actually coding. I’d ask questions that could easily be googled, just for the hit of dopamine that came from interaction. Worse, I developed an argumentative persona, pretending I knew more than I did, the classic Dunning-Kruger effect. The pattern repeated across multiple servers: join, argue, get banned, repeat.
My Journey Through Different Programming Paths
The C++ Beginning
I started with learncpp.com, studying at least 4 hours daily. It was challenging, but I was making progress despite still playing games and getting increasingly distracted by Discord.
The Unreal Engine Phase
Seeking to prove myself, I moved to Unreal Engine and joined their Discord server. My behavior worsened, I was asking trollish questions and getting called “dumb as a rock” repeatedly. Eventually, I managed to build a simple rendering engine, but my social media habits were still my primary obstacle.
The Linux Transition
Hoping for a fresh start, I switched to learning Linux, joining NixOS and Hyprland communities. While I was learning more technical skills, the Discord addiction persisted.
The Breaking Point: Realizing the Truth
After nearly four years on Discord (two years specifically in programming communities), I began asking people if I should leave the platform. No one gave me a straight “no”, they’d joke around or give vague answers.
What I finally understood was profound: everyone knew Discord was bad for my progress, but no one would say it directly. One person’s comment finally clicked: “I gave up on that dream because it was too hard for me.” That was the closest to honesty I received.
The harsh truth I discovered:
On Discord, you’re either using people or being used. A few administrators control and monetize the platform, but most users aren’t there for anything truly useful, especially for young developers under 18.
What To Do: Lessons Learned
After years of struggling, here’s what I’ve learned about making real progress as a young developer:
- Completely avoid Discord and similar real-time chat platforms for learning programming
- Embrace the struggle of learning through documentation, books, and non-real-time forums like Reddit
- Establish a daily routine and commit to at least 90 minutes of focused reading every day
- Prioritize long-term growth over temporary dopamine hits and social validation
- Start building real projects immediately, even if you know nothing, you’ll learn through failure
- Don’t waste time trying to prove yourself to others, focus on innovation and creation instead
The Path Forward
I now understand that my true goal was never about impressing others on Discord, it was about creating something meaningful, building startups, and making a positive impact on the world.
The distractions and addiction cost me years of progress, but the clarity I’ve gained is invaluable. I’m now focused on building real skills, developing actual projects, and pursuing my dream of creating innovative startups.
A Message to Those Still Trapped
If you’re currently caught in the Discord trap or similar social media addiction while trying to learn programming, please hear me: it’s holding you back more than you realize. The constant dopamine hits from notifications and real-time responses are training your brain to avoid the productive struggle that leads to real learning.
Break free, embrace the difficulty of learning on your own, and discover the deep satisfaction that comes from solving problems through your own effort.
Quotes That Guide Me
“People criticize because it helps them justify the risks they chose not to take, in the hopes that it will dissuade you from doing it so that you can be in the exact same position as them which then justifies that they made the right call.”
“The sign of success is the hate that you get along the way.”
“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”
“If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough.”
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
This blog post is dedicated to my future self, who will look back and be grateful that I finally broke free from the distractions that were keeping me from my true potential.