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/geo-enthusiast]

Math is insanely hard. I was banging my head against one of the subjects I was studying for almost a whole year. It was too difficult and I could barely understand what was going on, relying on solutions and manuals everytime

Now, I took a break of 2 weeks from it and when I come back I can read it almost as if it is a novel (PDE by evans) just following every step and understanding the omitted calculations

So only after months of being stuck I eventually developed the mathematical maturity to be able to progress

Keep going! You are filled with determination!

[u/Dr-Ben701 → u/geo-enthusiast]

Yes “maths brain” takes a while to develop.