5 ways to smash PhD anxiety and depression

In this video, we will talk about all of the ways you can combat PhD anxiety.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – introduction
2:16 – identifying triggers
4:15 – making your progress visible
7:42 – normalising setbacks and failures
9:21 – working with others
11:04 – something outside of your PhD

[tedtonz]

Lots of things happened during the 2nd semester of my 1st year PhD... as a result, I began to have panic attack every single morning after 5am. For real, doing a PhD while on depression/anxiety is no joke, it's like trying to fight a giant with a disabled body, it's not easy, take care guys, mentally and physically, be easy on urself

[omerashahnawaz]

The greatest tip in this video for me to include failure as a part of planning thankyou Andy for another amazing video

[everythingphdrelated]

This amazing content... it literally helps me with my PhD journey

[ikrashabbir]

These tips are brilliant. There should be more people who speak openly about how they really feel. It helps to speak with others and collaborate. Writing your thoughts down is definitely useful. Thanks for sharing.

[nurulhasan]

You're our hero, Mr. Stapleton. Sometimes I didn't leave a comment after watching yours, but everyday I make sure that I always bounce onto your channel. Such informative.

[Ai-ioir]

Thank you very much for the tips. Wow this video resonates with me so much :"

I experienced almost all of the thing you mentioned (about being anxious daily, going in to full panic mode daily, fearing for something to get wrong, searching for more information to solve problem only to get more confused, feeling incompetent, etc).

I tend to attribute those anxiety/fear to my characteristic as perfectionist and idealist. So, I have to make peace with two extremes daily, being a perfectionist and then worry a lot. I have to drag those two extremes to the neutral side daily. Doing a research is exhausting enough and dealing with yourself is just adding it up.

Therefore, I appreciate these tips you gave so much. I will try to work on my issue by following your tips :))

[stellwyn]

This is actually really good life advice whether doing a PhD or not! I'm currently working and considering going back to academia and doing a PhD, but I'm struggling with my mental health right now so I worry about whether I'll be able to do it. It's really reassuring to know that there are coping mechanisms which make it easier, and I'm going to see if putting them in place can help me cope better at work until I go back to academia!

[scrintal]

Great video Andy! Your insights apply to business as well. Thank you!

[Drganguli]

Very useful points for PhD’s to avoid permanent head damage

[kingvdarkness]

When you say failure, for me I plan to do loads of research and topic learning in the day, and then if I fall off the schedule I just give up and waste the day watching videos, how do I stop this? My solution to try for now is... make the schedule less demanding... but how would I schedule failure.... just add it to my to-do list and if I fall off just force myself back on?

[abdulrahmanmohamed]

Thank you Dr Andy . This video really helped me today.

[Mubarakaahshakirah]

Active doing and refining takes you further up down the path to success as opposite to trying to find and collect more information “act act act” 🐢

[digitalmadrasa]

I’m in a mood that I couldn’t move from bed since morning and it’s noon now because anxiety

[celicientacintacon]

I wish I had seen your video before. Super thumbs up to SWOT analysis! Also understanding if your anxiety is a real fact or just your brain projecting your fears as if it was real. Thanks a lot!

[lydiaasrat]

Thank you for making such helpful contents and providing essential resources !

[nissacita]

WOw, This is what I need to hear.. Thanks Andy!

[babyroo]

that was helpful thank you. I just emailed some friends / colleagues

[jasonknapp]

Great video Andy, much appreciated! Going to give your advice a go :)

[homa_ghaiedi]

I seriously need to talk to you about my situation. My supervisor is micromanaging me a lot. He wants us to put our lab schedule on the calendar every day, and if we leave 40 minutes before what our calendar is scheduled for, he will ask us to adjust the schedule or tell him when we want to leave. He doesn’t let me try new things, and always ask me to tell him what exact procedure I am following. The problem is that he is not the one doing these experiment and he doesn’t exactly know what works, and asks me to try his ideas, which never works. He is driving me crazy. I don’t know if I should master out or deal with it. He is definitely making me sick. ☹️

[aamirbadershah]

Although I have had a good standing in MS and Bachelors, yet my biggest anxiety is weather would I be able to earn my PhD Degree or not. Any idea about how to fight this thought?