  We have conducted a qualitative psychology study to explore the experience of
feeling overwhelmed in the realm of software development. Through the candid
confessions of two participants who have recently faced overwhelming
challenges, we have identified seven distinct categories:
communication-induced, disturbance-related, organizational, variety, technical,
temporal, and positive overwhelm. While most types of overwhelm tend to
deteriorate productivity and increase stress levels, developers sometimes
perceive overwhelm as a catalyst for heightened focus, self-motivation, and
productivity. Stress was often found to be a common companion of overwhelm. Our
findings align with previous studies conducted in diverse disciplines. However,
we believe that software developers possess unique traits that may enable them
to navigate through the storm of overwhelm more effectively.
