I can't believe how hard a PhD is. It's the hardest thing I've ever tried to do in my life (and I thought my first degree was hard enough). It's not just intellectually challenging it's mentally challenging, emotionally challenging, financially challenging. It forces you to question everything about your research, yourself, and life. It puts you through enormously low lows, and some nice highs (hopefully). To be honest, I think you just have to give yourself a big hug and admit that it's a pretty amazing thing to try to do - & you're doing well to even try... I think I have seen every PhD student be pushed to the edge of their limits, and I've seen most cry. So you're not alone. Hang in there :o)

I cannot agree more than you SeaBird.. At times I think we all PhD students are part of an alien psychological experiment or part of a twisted reality show!!!!

I think it is pretty common to get depressed in your 2nd year. I certainly did, and ended up just stopping doing all work and wallowing for about a month. I read the whole Harry Potter series during this time, sadly enough! It may feel worrying to let yourself just take a break, as there is so much to do, but i think it is necessary and possible to catch up when you feel better. After just allowing myself to relax for a while I felt a lot better, and still finished the phd in good time in the end. Just don't be so hard on yourself.

just a note to those of you experiencing mental health problems - PLEASE look after yourself: if it carries on for more than a couple of weeks, do something about it. I'm now in my 8th year, thanks to not acting on depression (after negative comments about a paper that I wrote). I tried to work through it, but the intensity and pressure of a phd made me get worse...I now have real problems & find working a real challenge (had to go PT, as a disabled student). It's best to take sick leave for a month or so, than fry your brain.

Take Care, P

P.S.

Don't be pressured by well-meaning (& ignorant) friends / family re. antidepressants, if you feel they may help - it's all down to the individual (they may make you sleepy & give you memory problems, or if you're prescribed the wrong one, make you wired, or you may have no side effects at all). get informed & go see your GP (or better, talk to several at your practice) and ask their advice. I came off them 'cos I felt pressured - this contributed to the development of bi-polar. Only you know how well you feel.

I think everybody would advise you to go and see a GP to be on the safe side....which I recommend as well.

However, you should realize that....depression is also a part of natural phenomenon which a lot of humans go through and research students are definitely more stressed out (dont need reference for this, you can see it around yourself)......so what is happening to you might just be a normal phenomenon..of course go see a GP by all means....however try to calm yourself down as well.......by any alternative therapies which might be beneficial to you.

I wish you all the best......and I just want to confess that I do feel a lot of what you feel as well but I dont regard myself as clinically depressed, its just a part of life.

Hello- sorry to keep this thread going, but I have a query thats a bit related to it. I have had depression and severe anxiety for a long time, but I've never told anyone in the department I'm in. Does anyone think its a good idea to let people know you have these kind of problems, and how do you think they would react? I'm obviously just a bit embarrassed about it, and feel pretty guilty about it too. But I've never been sure if telling anyone would be the right thing to do. Anyway, any thoughts people may have on it would be great.

I haven't told anyone official, but have told one or two PhD friends. It probably depends on how supportive that person would be and if they would spread it round the department for whatever reason or use it against you. I presumed my supervisor wouldn't be any help if I told him and you can go weeks without him chceking on your progress anyway. I would say things like I had a block from writing for a while and he would say a lot of people can go through that. I found a nice younger lecturer who listens to me if I get really stuck and puts my work back on track.

If you've been diagnosed as clinically depressed, and it's affecting your work, then it might be a good idea to let your dept. know - & supervisor if they seem sympathetic. then if things get worse, they might be more liable to cut you some slack (with extensions, sick leave, etc.), if you're too ill to work.

If it's gone on for more than a year (and affects your work), it can be classed as a disability, and you may receive further support from disability services (such as the provision of a mentor). Illnesses or disabilities should be considered confidential (but check policies).

There's clearly still a lot of prejudice, fear and ignorance surrounding mental illness (of whatever type), but you have as much right to support, as you would with any illness. just remember, it's really common within university environments, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Hey its ok!

some get more/deeper depressed than others some get more often depressed than others. I don't know anyone doing a PhD just for fun and hobby singing all the way to the stage.....your first step was good...talking about it and describing what you feel...
step 2: Tell yourself you are AWESOME for even trying to start a PhD
step 3: Look at yourself in mirror and say: If I don't make it....that is fine too, I am still AWESOME because many do not try
Step 4: start eating some of your favourite foods and love yourself
step 5: go see mr or mrs counsellor and say hey...this is tough... you will feel better afterwards..
This PhD IS YOURS not your supervisor's or your university's but something you can do with as you please...and don't worry what people might think of your PhD...whether you do it or not. This is your journey for the next few years and you do not have to have the answers yet.

Hi Vince,
It totally depends on what your work environment is like. Are they supportive to others? It also depends how you deal with your condition andif you think it affects your work. If it is a general condition that you have had for a long time, you might feel better keeping this for your self. If it is work related and getting worse however, you might need to speak to someone in your department. Stress leave works for some, but others go further down and do better staying in their work environment.