I got the same feeling a few months ago playing Metro Exodus. For some games you need a happyer state of mind to play. With STALKER i never had that problem. But with the Metro series, and/or other apocaliptic/horror games i got that feeling.
To remedy it, i
play racing games like DiRT Rally, flight sims, strategy, X-com, city building games.
Almost a year since i preorderd it

Hope they don't delay it again.