PhDiaries: I can't keeping going like this...PhD burnout & depression | Black psychology PhD student

[@AdriannaMFields]

I literally just started my first year of my PhD program. I told myself before I even started that I was set boundaries within myself and others when it comes to this program. So I literally make it a point from Friday at 5 PM all the way to Sunday 7 PM. I am not doing any work, no readings, no annotations nothing so that I can keep peace within myself, but maintain a normal life. I’m blessed to be financial stable, not responsible for other human beings, other than my service dog(that’s my girl), and maintain my health. You got this!

[@kensworld2339]

I need to start doing this 😭 let me get my work done - especially since it’s a light work week!!! Thank You 💙🤍

[@AdriannaMFields]

@@kensworld2339 Please do! It’s going to be hard and weird at first but you have so much peace. I tell my clients and mentees all the time if you don’t have self boundaries within yourself, how you expect others to respect yours.

[@AdriannaMFields]

@@kensworld2339 Please do! It’s going to be hard and weird at first but you will have so much peace when doing it. I telling my clients and mentees all the time, if you don’t have self boundaries within how do you expect others to respect yours.

[@khaleemaalkainaat8178]

Yes this is the way! By five (sometimes 3 if I am being honest) I log off my computer and do some things that give my soul some rest. A walk in the park, play a video game, take a long bath, make a nice meal literally anything that makes me excited. Hoping everyone studying now has plenty of moments for themselves! ♥

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Love the animal companions 🖤

[@faviolarobles-saenz2672]

Also in a psych Phd program and it has changed me completely. I am not the person I was and it breaks my heart. To witness & experience blatant racism, lack of integrity, lack of support etc etc has taken me back. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

It can definitely change you. So true

[@jalisabrooks2376]

I just subscribed because these are the exact topics I’m very interested in. Being black in psychology is already taxing, but being in the PhD program I can only imagine how the toll can be heavy on your shoulders! 🙏🏾💜💜

[@mgamez00]

I am SO happy you shared your experience. I’m a second year PhD and I’m starting to feel so overwhelmed by not just the work, but the politics of academia, the sexism and competitive culture. I know I have a long way to go, so hearing I’m not alone makes it a little bit easier. We got this and we can push through ❤

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Whewwww the politics, the politics, the politics

[@smartaward20078]

I just started my PhD program. This is my first year and I'm an older women in my 40s. I understand your pain.

[@poet82n]

Are you working as well? I'm in my 40's and just started law school while working full-time. I'm steadily contemplating my decision lol.

[@smartaward20078]

@@poet82n Yes, I am working full-time and studying full-time. It's so hard because I do not have a support system, but I'm going to keep pushing. There are days when I want to give up, and I ask myself why I am doing this.

[@Cindy99765]

​@poet82n I definitely recommend doing law school part-time, even if it takes four years. I'm doing my Master's in Environmental Law and Policy and will begin working full-time soon. I take online classes for flexibility. Having good grades (ideally a 3.0 GPA) during your 1L helps a lot in securing competitive clerkships and fellowships in the summer. Doing 30+ hours of reading and studying every week in legal material just isn't sustainable.

[@poet82n]

@@smartaward20078 I feel you. I have no support system as well. Was working full-time and doing my Masters full-time a couple years ago and it was hard, but I got through it. Hang in there.

[@poet82n]

@@Cindy99765 I am in a part-time program and it's still a lot. Plus, there are other factors that are taking place. I'll have to figure something out even if I have to pause law school.

[@jayjayeffron9249]

Psychology often wants the answers to be at the fingertip of man but all I can tell you friend is that there is rest for the weary in Christ. No one else is coming to save us. I have been to the tops of Hollywood and down to the depths of Skid Row. You are not losing how to have fun, you have lost your JOY. Only God can repair what is broken, he is the one who crafted you after all!

[@Songswithbeth]

Amen

[@Bababubbles]

I feel like I can relate this video so much , but i'm not even in college or grad school 🫂🩵

[@yasmineheflin]

Omg you just summarized everything that I have been feeling. I’m currently in a MSW program doing advanced standing and I’ve been feeling like it’s taking the driver seat in my life. I have been debating on going into a DSW or Ph.D program because I hate feeling stuck and like my life is passing me by. I love academia though and I really want to be successful but idk. I’ve been looking for representation of a young Black person navigating the world of academia so I’m glad I found you and your content 💕🫶🏾🫶🏾

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

So glad you found this channel. Representation definitely matters, especially in academic pursuits

[@PatriciaPatricia_]

As a HUGE proponent of listening to the body's messaging, I can only encourage you to CONTINUE to do that. This, this public candid acknowledgement, is POWERFUL and I hope you're proud of yourself for listening, being honest with yourself and calling a thing a thing. Ego aside. Proclivity for high-achievement aside. Zealous academic pursuit aside. This right here, is POWERFUL. IM proud of you. Stranger et al. lol May you identify your needs in this season and continue to show up for them. We're rooting for you. However long it takes.

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Yes yes yes. The body will speak

[@Iksvomid]

Five minutes into this video and already my favorite black PhD student!

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

I'm honored 🖤

[@carterliciousx6149]

i absolutely love your realness. i’m senior hbcu student applying to phd programs and questioning my life and haven’t even entered a program yet 😭

[@Ms.Robinson__]

Hello young Soror! It took me 7 years to get my EdD (just defended earlier this month). I had to take it a step at a time and find a bit of balance. Plus I was an older student so I dealt the whole imposter syndrome thing. You are young, girl!! See this through but celebrate every milestone, peek in on friends and family.

[@meaghanpearson439]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and being vulnerable about this journey. You being grounded in what you need during this time will serve you well as you finish up your PhD

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Absolutely. Groundedness is going to be key🖤

[@marcusf.9690]

I’m a black nonbinary person in a PhD program. Thank you for sharing your story because it makes me feel less alone in how much doing a PhD has affected me. However, while we are forced to change our strategies when do we begin to address the problems in academia and within the ivory tower. Not only is it expensive gatekeeping and hazing, there are many individuals who are not good human beings nor are they creating research to help communities or people, only to raise their own status.

[@jchaf-tf1ih]

Reminds of the "pool noodle bludgeoning" phenom-if you hit someone with a pool noodle once, it's not a big deal. Like, okay, ouch? But if you do it every single day, that person will get tired. They will grow irritiable, they will have a bad day, they will get sick of the repetition, and one day the pool noodle bludgeoning will occur at exactly the wrong time and they will have their breaking point. Allostatic load, if you will. We can only take so much as humans, we are not machines, we are not designed to work forever. Monitor your wellness so that you never get to that breaking point. Take care of yourself-sleep, eat, pray, and take even 30 minutes to yourself without putting any pressure on yourself to do or be anything. You are enough and you will get there with persistence. Just take it day by day. Best of luck, thanks for this vid. God bless xx

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Exactly

[@liv-tk3vp]

As always thank you for sharing your experience. I’ve struggled to find black queer voices who have progressed through academia and capture what it means to be pushed to our limits in pursuit of our passions I watched your videos as I was getting my masters in nursing. You showed me that I was not alone in this journey Wishing you all the best in whichever path is the healthiest for you ✨

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

"Pushed to our limits in pursuit of our passions." Absolutely

[@robbiep.5497]

As a 30-year old who just finished their Masters program and has a brother in his PhD dissertation phase, I felt this so much. He constantly reminds me to NOT go further lol. There were times where I felt completely alone, I had more breakdowns than I’d like to admit, I even took a semester off with the intent of not returning to school (eventually, I did return in the Fall and finished out). With how difficult it was for me to get my Masters, and how much it took over my life for three years, he absolutely does not have to worry about me doing that 😭 it’s been two months since I’ve graduated and I’m still catching up on the sleep I was deprived of, and trying to get back into doing things that actually make me happy. Having a support system and community is SO important. My brother was the only person close to me who knew/knows how it is because we were dealing with it simultaneously, and he’s still dealing with it. But having folks around you in general that you can trust and love, and that you can vent to is vital.

[@noodles.planet]

Thank you for sharing your experience, as an undergrad at a PWI I thought the insanity just came with going to college lol. Thank you for reminding all of us to be human and to put ourselves first. Wishing you the best on all of your pursuits academic or otherwise ❤️.

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

I also often question my sanity lol

[@eniola988]

I'm in year 3 and studying blackness in Spain and chile... some days I feel like I'm going crazy. thank you for sharing this

[@BlkWxnAcademix]

Yep, I am also consistently questioning my sanity

[@coreyrobinson1900]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🔥🔥😍😍

[@kidseducationabc]

✗TitleToo Long ✗TagsToo Short ✓Description Channel Tags No tags Video Tags No tags and more SEO Problems your Videos.

[@karic4734]

Same.