The PhD Knowledge Base

Shared struggle

Dr. Max Lempriere

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If there’s one thing I can guarantee it’s that the stress and anxiety you’re feeling around your PhD is shared by many of those around you.

Because academia is dominated by a culture of perfectionism and competitiveness, and because pastoral support networks are often so weak, many PhD students can often feel unable or unwilling to share their own emotive experiences.

This is such a shame, because a PhD is an incredibly emotive challenge, and the longer people suffer in silence the more they can start to think that they’re unique in feeling what they’re feeling.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Most of the most common struggles that accompany a PhD (imposter syndrome, self-doubt, fear of failure, feelings of inadequacy) are shared by almost all PhD students I interact with.

This isn’t to downplay the stress that these feelings can have, but rather its intended to show you that you’re not alone in your struggles. Unfortunately, they’re part and parcel of doing a PhD.

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