Why Do PhD Students Get So Stressed? Survival Strategies for Overcoming Extreme Stress

A PhD from the vast majority of the world, not the USA, is a rather strange beast. You get to look at a tiny bit of human knowledge and then ever so carefully push what you are doing past the boundaries of what is known into the unknown. Sounds romantic and wonderfully alluring, does it not? That’s the rose-tinted glasses view.

The reality of it is that, until a PhD, you could ask someone to read a paper or a book and get the knowledge from somewhere. A PhD requires you to push beyond that and create completely new and novel theory. You just don’t have a clue about what you are looking at. And there within the insane ball of string in your mind is a doubt. What if I am wrong?

Gradual Onset of Stress

Now, like most vile cancers, it starts with just a tiny grain of doubt and it grows slowly and destructively. I have known students go through hell and back yet produce a superb thesis only to submit it and then kill themselves. That is the level of stress you go through, and you do it for years on end. My hair is utterly colorless through stress; it is pigmentless. You lie awake at night, your mind churning over and over, trying to make sense of something that could be so randomly weird that you would never get it in a dozen lifetimes.

The Horrors Continue

So that is the beginning of your horrors; the rest is that the whole basis of your work may be founded on complete rubbish and be about to be disproven. Further, there are different schools of knowledge within one subject, each with its own interpretation. Fall foul of one of those, and you will find it hard going to work in the field. You don’t know the answers, and you don’t know what everyone thinks, either privately or publicly, and they will ridicule you if they do not agree. They will assume they fully understand what you are saying and strike you down because they don’t agree. Funny thing is, the majority of the time, they have not understood or have a different belief, but they go for you just the same.

A Personal Anecdote

My examination committee chair had heckled my plate alignment theory work for years. He was a particle small solid movement guru, and the plate alignment theory did not sit well with him. By some strange act of fate, he was my committee chair, and he made it known very clearly how he felt with his opening line by actually saying that it was all bullshit. Now, I am a Celt; we do not capitulate; we survive. But while waiting for them to decide my fate, I realized I had to debate his standpoint to capitulation. I was not a young student; I had successfully defended a previous PhD and had the examiner congratulate me on my thesis. This time, it was not going to be nice. It took over two hours of debate, a diary, and a hand to show the theory. The shock was noticeable; I had dismantled his belief in something so apparently mundane that it was a forgone conclusion. He needed to think on the theory and left. He later became one of my biggest supporters.

The Emotional Toll of a PhD

That is the stress you see, just generated by the concepts in your thesis. There will be those who will vehemently disparage what I have written here, simply because they claim to have a jolly old time doing their PhD. There will be those who do not agree with me. However, it is based on my personal experiences and my knowledge. They are not me, and they are not the students I have mentored over the years. In my experience, a PhD will change you by force. Stress is just one of the tools used.

Strategies to Help Overcome PhD Stress

If you find yourself in the throes of severe stress during your PhD, several strategies can help you manage it.

Support Networks: Build a support network of peers, mentors, and family. Sharing your experiences and concerns can provide emotional relief and practical advice. Taking Breaks: It is crucial to take breaks. Short walks, meditation, and other relaxation techniques can help clear your mind. Seek Professional Help: Don’t hesitate to seek professional help, such as counseling or therapy, if you feel overwhelmed or isolated. Creative Outlets: Engage in creative activities like writing, painting, or playing music. These can be therapeutic and provide a break from your research.

Conclusion

While the PhD journey can be extremely challenging, understanding the sources of stress and developing coping mechanisms can help you navigate the demanding process. Remember, it is not just about surviving; it is about thriving despite the obstacles.