5 YOE Developer Here - Over-Reliant on AI, Lost Problem-Solving Edge, Need to Course-Correct Before Job Switch

Hey fellow devs, need some honest advice here.

**Background:**

• 5 years experience in [your stack]

• Been using AI coding assistants heavily for the past year+

• Company started tracking AI usage metrics

• Planning to switch jobs soon

**The Problem:** I've become uncomfortably dependent on AI. It's not that I don't understand the code—I can read it, modify it, and it works. But I've noticed:

• 1.I struggle to explain solutions to clients in my own words
• 2. My problem-solving "muscle" feels atrophied—I reach for AI before thinking
• 3. I can't afford to take extra time per ticket (escalation risk), so I keep using AI
• 4. I'm worried about interviews where I need to think on my feet

**What I've Tried:**

• Asking AI to explain solutions to me (helps short-term, doesn't stick)
• Planning to solve tickets without AI (time pressure kills this)

**What I Need:**

• Practical strategies to rebuild independent coding confidence
• How to balance "AI-assisted" vs "AI-dependent"
• Anyone else recovered from this? What worked?
• Interview prep advice for someone in this situation

I'm not looking to quit AI entirely—it's a tool. But I want to get back to a place where I'm the driver, not the passenger. I know the basics, but I want to be the kind of dev who can solve tickets independently and explain them confidently.

Any advice from devs who've been here?

**TL;DR:** 5YOE, over-relying on AI, lost problem-solving confidence, need to rebuild skills while job hunting. What worked for you?