Title: 7 Reasons Why Your PhD Is Causing Stress And Depression - Cheeky Scientist
Headings: 7 Reasons Why Your PhD Is Causing Stress And Depression
7 Reasons Why Your PhD Is Causing Stress And Depression
I was crying nearly every day.
But it seemed that no matter how much work I did, or how hard I tried, it was never good enough for my advisor.
I had lost the will to continue on.
It was like she knew all too well how difficult a PhD was on students.
It became clear that depression and anxiety were widespread, and not just something I was suffering from.
Why PhD Students Are More Likely To Experience Depression Than Other Students
Critically, the prevalence of psychological distress was much higher in PhD students compared to other highly educated individuals and higher education students.
A lack of positive career prospects, space, and resources to succeed, and a general feeling that they were less valued and not included in their departments, contributed to doctoral students experiencing depression and a lower life satisfaction compared to masters’ students.
7 Signals That You Are Suffering From Depression And Need To Seek Help
Even if you finished your PhD without experiencing psychological distress, you are still at risk to develop mental health issues as a postdoc, or even as a faculty member, if you are lucky enough to make it that far!
The most important thing is to know the symptoms.
Keep in mind that there are multiple treatment options and it takes time and effort to find the best fit and show improvement, so it’s important to not wait too long to see a mental health professional to help you get started.
1. Constantly feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”.
Maybe you feel anxious about everything, where even the simplest tasks (like getting out of bed) fill you with dread and worry.
While these symptoms may seem contradictory, they can be expressed all at once.
2. Feeling hopeless, guilty, and worthless.
It is important to remember your value as a PhD.
You have nothing to feel ashamed of.
3. A loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.
Regardless of how much work there may be on your plate, make time to remove yourself from your research and recharge.
Having other activities outside of your PhD is critical to completing your PhD.
4. Issues with sleep, irritability, and memory.
When you do fall asleep, you toss and turn all night, or wake up early in the morning and can’t fall back asleep again.
Increased irritability is common for PhD students because of the demands placed them, but this also causes a strain on personal relationships, making it even more challenging to get through your PhD.
5. Changes in appetite and weight.
Even in the absence of changes to eating behaviors, people with depression can experience weight loss or gain.
Eating and eating well is important to keep your energy levels stable.
6. Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.
While they can temporarily make you feel better, they are not real solutions to the problem.
They are not there to judge you but to help you and be empathetic, and knowing all of the substances that you take is important for them to be able to make safe recommendations for your care.
7. Suicidal thoughts or attempts.
If you have ever thought about killing yourself, have thought about self-harm, or have attempted suicide, you need to see someone as soon as possible.
There are also many suicide prevention hotlines that you can call to speak with someone if you feel alone.
To learn more about the 7 reasons why your PhD is causing stress and depression, including instant access to our exclusive training videos, case studies, industry insider documents, transition plan, and private online network, get on the wait list for the Cheeky Scientist Association.
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Content: The Graduate Student Happiness and Well-Being Report released by the University of California, Berkeley also found that almost 50% of doctoral students met the clinical criteria for depression. A lack of positive career prospects, space, and resources to succeed, and a general feeling that they were less valued and not included in their departments, contributed to doctoral students experiencing depression and a lower life satisfaction compared to masters’ students. Academia has unfortunately become a breeding ground for anxiety and depression because of its lack of support for graduate students. But, all is not lost. PhDs can and will be supported in industry, where their talent is valued and companies take pride in ensuring their employees are satisfied. 7 Signals That You Are Suffering From Depression And Need To Seek Help
Unfortunately, the causes behind the increased depression and anxiety experienced by PhD students do not end when you defend your thesis. These problems are prevalent at all levels of academia. Even if you finished your PhD without experiencing psychological distress, you are still at risk to develop mental health issues as a postdoc, or even as a faculty member, if you are lucky enough to make it that far! While depression is common among PhD students, early detection is key to helping you complete your PhD and leave academia. The most important thing is to know the symptoms.