I’ve faced pressure in many forms—artillery missions under a blazing sun, late-night fire watches, and sleepless nights before deployment.
But I never expected that debugging JavaScript at 2 AM could feel just as intense.
There’s something about being stuck in code—tracing a logic bug that won’t quit, chasing a null value down a rabbit hole, or staring at a crashing app with no error in sight—that makes your pulse quicken. It’s not physical combat, but your brain treats it like one.
That’s when I feel him.
A low sigh. Heavy paws.
A presence at my feet that says, “Step away, soldier. You need a reset.”
My Great Dane, as massive as he is mellow, has become my daily mental health checkpoint—and, surprisingly, my best debugging tool.
Dogs Are the Natural Counterbalance to Tech Burnout
Tech is exciting, sure. But it’s also mentally taxing. Long hours in front of a screen. Constant problem-solving. Isolation during deep focus.
You can lose yourself in it.
And that’s the danger. Not just of bad posture or eye strain—but of mental exhaustion, anxiety, and burnout.
Many of us wear “grind culture” like a badge of honor. But it’s not sustainable.
My dog doesn’t care if my pull request got merged or my pipeline failed.
He cares if I’ve taken a walk. If I’ve stood up. If I’ve remembered to eat.
He brings me back to balance.
Combat Triggers and Code Overload
As a veteran, I came into the tech world already carrying baggage. PTSD doesn’t always show up as nightmares—it can be hyper-focus, emotional shutdown, or getting overwhelmed by minor stressors.
There are times when a piece of broken code triggers the same stress signals that once came with real danger.
And when that happens, it’s not logic that helps—it’s presence.
My dog senses it. He doesn’t need a command. He just leans in, or nudges my arm with his big, droopy head. And suddenly, I breathe.
How He Keeps Me Grounded (and Productive)
Here's how my dog helps me manage mental health and stay focused in my tech career:
🐾 1. Enforces Breaks
Dogs need walks. Water. Food. So I take breaks not because I should, but because he needs them—and I do too.
🐾 2. Physical Contact = Emotional Reset
Petting him resets my nervous system. It’s real: studies show that interacting with animals lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and boosts serotonin.
🐾 3. Creates Structure
Feeding, grooming, walking—it's a daily routine that mirrors military structure. Routines help keep anxiety at bay.
🐾 4. Presence Without Pressure
He doesn’t ask me for anything other than to be—and that’s sometimes exactly what I need.
A Debugger with Paws and Patience
When I get locked into a loop—whether in code or thought—he’s my exit condition.
He helps me zoom out, pause, and remember that life exists outside the IDE.
And that the most valuable tech upgrade is the one that keeps me mentally resilient.
The Takeaway for Tech Workers
You don’t have to be a veteran to benefit from the calming presence of a dog. In a world full of abstraction and pressure, dogs bring us back to reality—the good kind. They model loyalty, balance, and simplicity.
If you’re deep in tech and feeling burnt out, consider getting a dog—or volunteering at a shelter.
Even short exposure can improve your mood and focus.
Final Thought
My dog doesn’t write code.
But he’s helped me write a better life.
And for that, I’ll take him over a fancy debugging tool any day.
Follow this journey at jameshenderson.online—where the line between calm and code is walked daily on four legs.