'I’m Losing All Of My Sanity': Indian Techie In US Considers Returning Home At Low Pay 

For many Indian professionals, the dream of moving to the United States is wrapped in the promise of career growth, financial stability, and a better quality of life. But for one 26-year-old techie, that dream is unraveling under the weight of loneliness, a toxic workplace, and declining mental health.

In a Reddit post titled “3 years of job, planning of returning to India because of mental health”, the anonymous poster shared a raw and emotional account of his current dilemma. Despite having completed a Master’s degree in Computer Science with a 3.9 GPA and working in data engineering using tools like AWS and Snowflake, the techie says he is on the verge of burnout. 

3 years of job, planning of returning to india because of mental health
byu/ryanhiga2019 inreturnToIndia

“I personally do not mind the grind of the work, but lately my mental health is suffering immensely,” he wrote. Currently in the first year of his H-1B visa, he works a 9-to-5 job in what he describes as a “relatively toxic environment.” He elaborates on being micromanaged, having no say in what he works on, and being regularly interrupted during meetings by his project manager. “In my job, I have no respect from anybody,” he added.

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Although he earns a decent salary, owns a car, and lives alone with his cat, the techie says material comfort has done little to cushion the emotional toll. “It seems like I am losing all of my sanity,” he confessed. “I have no friends here or honestly not many friends in India.” Adding to his internal conflict is a deep yearning to be close to his parents in India. While acknowledging the stress and infrastructural challenges of returning home — particularly to Mumbai, where he says his family lives in a polluted, noisy area with limited recreational options — he still sees family as a lifeline. “At least I will be close to my family,” he noted.

“I feel if I don’t take any drastic steps now, I’ll be stuck in this toxic environment forever,” he wrote, describing his state of mind as “truly conflicted” and hinting at the mental toll the situation is taking. “Every day, it feels like it’s only a matter of time till I burst and do something I will regret.”

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The post sparked a flood of responses from the Reddit community, many of whom offered support, advice, and personal anecdotes. One user wrote, “If you do not have any financial commitments, then happily return back to India… the privilege of having family beside you is more than anything else in this world.” Others cautioned against romanticizing the move, reminding him that toxic work cultures and isolation aren’t unique to the US “Don’t think your life will be any better after the move, since your issues like toxic work culture and lack of friends won’t get resolved in India magically,” one Redditor warned, suggesting instead that his parents visit him in the US for emotional support. Some encouraged him to prioritize mental health above all. “You can work in India for a year or two and return later on H1B or L1. Being around parents helps a lot,” another user advised. Yet, amidst the flood of opinions, one comment stood out for its simplicity: “Don’t listen to anyone here. Just do whatever your heart says. Follow your intuition.”