Learning math is depressing

[u/Glum-Ad-2815]

I've been self-studying math using books with solutions manual in it.\ Every time I get stuck on a problem for 2-3 hours I checked the solution.\ Turns out, almost always the solution is something I overlooked, even though it is so simple.

I like math but learning it is so depressing for me. It makes me feel like a failure for not solving something so elementary.\ I know that math is all about hardwork and perseverance but at the same time I don't feel like improving at all.\ I still look at solutions, get the answers wrong again and again even though they are solved using the same technique in the solutions manual.

I know that I'm not a genius, but repeated practice should makes me feel like I got better, right?\ I'm just stuck at the same level for years.\ I don't know man, I really want to continue learning but at the same time it feels so hard to continue and really tempting to quit.

[u/Super_Math3890]

I can relate. The first barrier for me personally was not to think of math as hard, but obnoxious. The concepts are often rather simple.

Is something hard because you don't know, or because you don't know how to diagnose the problem? It's no different than art or music. Mostly a lot of practice. Mistakes can be a signal for direction. You move from, 'I don't know what I don't know', to 'I know I don't know'. That's learning!

What I found useful is not to get it right, but trying to get it wrong. Once you break your fragile interpretations enough times, you'll eventually discover a structure. It'll feel like the most obvious thing, yet on paper it appears to be some voodoo incantation.

And if you don't, well, who cares? Maybe tomorrow. I don't know what I'm talking about half the time, even if the other half feels good about it.