post dissertation depression

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What is post dissertation depression?

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In this blog we will discuss what post dissertation depression is. 

We will also discuss what are the possible causes of post dissertation depression, and how one can cope with post dissertation depression.

Post-dissertation depression is a common phenomenon that is experienced by PhD scholars and master’s scholars who finish their dissertation defence and are in the midst of deciding what to do next in their professional life. 

It is not an official diagnosis but it is commonly a term that is used to refer to the sense of emptiness, anxiety, and low moods that college scholars usually experience after their dissertation defence is over. 

Post dissertation depression often occurs when the dissertation defence ends and all the schedules are dropped, and the scholar no longer has a goal that they drive towards as well as framework for their day to day lives, it can leave the individual feeling a little out of place. 

The depression that these PhD scholars experience during this time is marked by 

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day- either by their own observation or observation made by others.
• Diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
• Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
• Insomnia or hypersomnia. 
• A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.

What causes post dissertation depression?

Post dissertation depression typically occurs due to an identity crisis where the individual has attained their goal and they are struck with a “what now?” question about the next steps of their professional life. 

It is also possible that it is caused by the complete lack of rigid routines that the scholars are used to due to their academics leaving them ample time to think and reflect on their lives. 

In most cases, it is at this time where they are able to sit in silence away from the rush of their academic life as scholars that they grow anxious about where they are going and who they are becoming which causes anxiety and ultimately depression. 

When the dissertation  ends and all the schedules are dropped, and the scholar no longer has a framework for their day to day lives, it can leave the scholar feeling a little out of place. 

The lack of stimuli in their life or a driving force of a goal- they are given to think about themselves, their friendships and relationships, and their future can lead a scholar to feel worried, anxious, and as this aggravate it can lead the scholar to feel hopeless and helpless. 

This sense of helplessness, feelings of not being prepared enough for work life and the real world etc- that most scholars feel- and the sense of listlessness and displacement they feel can all aggravate leading to a depressive episode during this time. 

Mike Rucker, a writer for unstickme, also writes that one of the major causes of post dissertation depression is that once one has attained their goal, they are faced with a period of transition that they might be prepared for. 

This period can be a time of change in their professional status, identity, expectations and workload and they can also experience confusion when there is a shift in how others see them.

Another crucial aspect is that professionals often experience a shift in how they see themselves, the stress caused by the increase in responsibilities, and the direction of their work once they have attained tenure could be another reason why post dissertation depression occurs.

How to cope with post success depression?

According to writers at Transition Your Life, Here are some ways you can cope and overcome post dissertation depression:

Celebrate and rest

First, what you can do after you have achieved your goals is to celebrate the success of the goal or at the least the fact that you have reached the finish line. 

Celebrate the effort you have made, the achievements you have gained and how much you have learned. 

Now, after you celebrate- go out with friends, go on vacation, throw a party, go on a tour etc- take time to rest. 

Let this time of rest be focused on self care and self love- let it be about you and only you. 

It is okay to allow yourself to let yourself go for a few days but making the effort to stick to routine and structure in your day to day life can help you move forward. 

Allow yourself to feel loved by people who genuinely care for you and seek out new meaning from these positive and healthy relationships. 

You can choose to make new changes that help you feel better or healthier like going to the gym, changing your diet to a more healthy one, going for wants. Sometimes change in routines can also be your way of caring for yourself. 

Go on a sabbatical

Another thing that you can do is to go on a sabbatical and you take time to rest as well as engage in activities that can help you learn new skills and meet new people in the field. 

Nikole Patson, writing for Science,com, wrote that going for a sabbatical and collaborating with other people in a new country is what helped relearn and fall in love with work and the field all over again. 

Accept the uncertainty

Getting comfortable with the uncertainty of human existence by accepting the way you feel and the fact that not everything has a definite answer is one of the first steps you can take to deal with this feeling of existential dread. 

Acceptance can help you be less judgemental over yourself about why you might be feeling sad. Instead of beating yourself up for yourself, you can look at the various choices you can make to feel better by taking the time to assess your symptoms and come to grips with it.

Reaffirm values or seek out new set of values 

By taking the time to explore your life and surroundings, to uncover a new set of values that is authentic to yourself. 

This means re-evaluating self beliefs you had about yourself and the world. It may even require you to unlearn some beliefs and re-learn new beliefs that are realistic and compassionate to your limitations as a human being. 

This will involve mindful attention to your thoughts and your beliefs in regards to everyone around you, the world and its systems, and yourself. 

Go out and Actively seek positive experiences

According to positive psychology research, positive feelings are an important aspect of well-being. 

For a person to engage in activities and other experiences that help them feel positive feelings such as love, belongingness, achievement, and a sense of hope is important.

Even if you do not want to, even if your body is refusing to- take that chance for yourself and choose to do something that makes you feel less miserable. 

Plan a new goal

Give yourself time to plan a new goal, ask yourself what comes next for you and what ideas you would like to explore. 

Let your new goal be based on your new values and beliefs that you have developed over the course of the new goal. 

Take some time to work out the what’s, the whys, and the hows- and envision how you might build on the success you’ve already achieved. 

Develop a Support System

If you are struggling with depression, you will also want to develop a strong support system or have at least one person you can rely on for support. 

You might benefit from joining a support group specifically for depression and/or anger. In support groups, you’re likely to find yourself spending time with people who completely understand your situation.

In addition, if you join a group with a facilitator, you may find that you are offered helpful strategies to better manage your depression and anger. 

Seeking professional help to manage and learn more about your situation can be the best thing you can do for yourself and your journey of recovering from depression. 

If you are already in therapy, talking to your therapist about your feelings and the confusion you feel and the times that this lack of grounding has hurt you and others can be a good place to start. 

Your therapist can help you learn strategies on how to deal with your emotions and also help you make lifestyle changes on how to manage them more effectively.

In this blog we have discussed what post dissertation depression is. 

We have also discussed what are the possible causes of post dissertation depression, and how one can cope with post dissertation depression.

FAQ related to post dissertation depression

Does life get better after phd.

No, life does not get better after PhD. infact, it might get significantly harder  because most people go through what is known as post dissertation depression which is caused by a sudden identity crisis caused after one attains a goal they have work for so long that they no longer know where they now stand as a professional as well as in their personal life. 

What to do after finishing the thesis?

First, what you can do after you have achieved your thesis is to celebrate the success of the goal or at the least the fact that you have reached the finish line. 

Why are PhD students so depressed?

Depression in PhD students can be caused when you are unable to cope with the stress in your life because stress has a variety of mental and behavioural symptoms. 

Many PhD students are often trapped in a cycle of continued work, research, writing, and back to work. This often leads them to forsake their social life and neglect their own selves. 

This lack of balance between work and play often leads to burnout and eventually depression in students who are trying to complete their thesis. 

Nikole. Patson. How I recovered from tenure-track burnout. Science. Retrieved on 24th April 2022. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-i-recovered-tenure-track-burnout

Mike Rucker. How To Handle The Post Ph.D. Blues. Unstick me. Retrieved on 24th April 2022. https://unstick.me/handle-post-ph-d-blues/

Angel M. Jones. Coping With Post Defense Depression. Inside highered. Retrieved on 24th April 2022. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2021/05/13/dealing-mixed-emotions-completing-your-phd-opinion

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The Research Whisperer

Just like the thesis whisperer – but with more money, post-phd depression.

The author of this post has chosen to remain anonymous and they hope that sharing their post-PhD challenges will be helpful for others who may be going through the same things, or who are supporting those who are.

For those who mentor or manage Early Career Researchers, especially new postdocs, it may be useful to have this post’s perspective in the contextual mix.

———————

When I submitted my thesis, I was hit by post-submission blues, which I was already aware of. What I didn’t expect was that the cloud didn’t lift with completion and graduation. I pretended otherwise, but the moments of genuine excitement and happiness were fleeting. I felt confused and ashamed, compounding my emotions.

Wondering if anyone else had ever felt this way, I Googled it. It turns out that I’m not alone in experiencing post-PhD depression and it is a lot more common than I thought.

Alarmingly, I had never heard of it.

This post shines some light on post-PhD depression so that we can better prepare PhD candidates for life during and after completion and provide the best support that we can to graduates.

The PhD journey changes people

Even if your experience was overwhelmingly positive, a PhD changes people by virtue of its length and nature. Completion can trigger reflection on your experience. It takes time to understand and accept how you’ve changed; this can be confronting and surface as an identity crisis.

Sacrifices made might be a source of pride, grief, or both. You may struggle with poorer mental and/or physical health. Catching up with ‘normal life’ can be nice but also a constant reminder of what you missed.

Processing the emotional and mental impact of a PhD can be particularly confronting for those who faced trauma during their PhD (whether coincidentally and/or because of it). Candidates might have turned to coping mechanisms that have become unhealth, in hindsight. When life suddenly changes due to completion, trauma can surface, as can the reality of the mechanisms used to cope.

There’s a lot of good-byes

For most people, the lifestyle, environment, and relationships that are part of the PhD journey change significantly or come to an end along with the PhD itself. The loss of things you loved can be intense and overwhelming. It can take time to grieve and let go.

The future is uncertain

PhD candidates who submit and graduate are often asked, ‘What next?’.

The post-doctoral job market is highly competitive, and non-academic career pathways can be difficult to establish. Graduates – even if they know what they want to do next – can struggle to find a suitable position, especially if they are part of a marginalised group and/or are primary caregivers.

There can be a range of internal and external pressures shaping decisions. Graduates might apply for particular roles purely because they feel that is what is expected of them. They might suffer from imposter syndrome, and question whether their success was deserved, and whether they are capable of continuing to succeed (‘maybe I just got lucky’). Others might feel trapped in a particular pathway due to their life circumstances.

What can help

It can really help to know you’re not alone! Acknowledge and accept what you feel: your feelings are valid.

Be gentle with yourself. Adjusting to life post-PhD takes time and that’s ok. It can help to do other things that you enjoy, like hobbies and making the most of relationships with family and friends. Engage in ways that feel safe and are less triggering. Set goals to help give you the buzz of completing things but be aware that it’s normal to be underwhelmed by these when compared to a PhD thesis.

When you can, reflect on what you enjoyed most throughout your PhD and investigate how you can continue to do that. Perhaps you loved data analysis, writing, interviewing participants, or tutoring students. These are all skills which are used in other career pathways, such as business analytics and teaching – the specifics might be different, but the process is the same.

There will be a range of opportunities that might be available to you which aren’t immediately obvious – so don’t be afraid to ask people, from your personal and academic circles, to point them out.

Of course, that can all be easier said than done. Consider talking about what you are going through with trusted family and friends and seeking professional help where appropriate. It’s ok to ask for support.

How to help someone else struggling with post-PhD depression

It’s nice to congratulate people when they submit and complete their degree but be mindful that they might not be feeling excited. Allow this to inform how you interact with people throughout their PhD journey.

For example, consider avoiding directly asking what they’re doing next, as this can be triggering (even if well-intentioned). Instead, consider asking, ‘What are you looking forward to next?’ – it gives space for the graduate to answer however they are comfortable. If you have a closer relationship with the graduate, you could also ask, ‘What were the highlights of your journey?’ and ‘How can we support you during this next stage?’.

Consider being open about your own post-PhD experience, too. Even a casual remark can help de-stigmatise post-PhD depression. Something like ‘I realised after I finished that I actually really missed working in the laboratory, so much so that I decided to volunteer to do outreach in high schools’, for example.

If possible, don’t cut off support immediately, whether it’s at a personal, professional, or institutional level.

Most importantly, prevention is better than a cure. It helps to encourage a strong identity for doctoral researchers beyond academia, including maintaining connections with their family, friends, and hobbies. Supervisors and other doctoral support teams can help by openly discussing work-life balance and encouraging it for their researchers.

Take the time to learn about mental health and the PhD journey, and implement best practice for yourself, your colleagues, and for PhD candidates more generally. The ‘Managing you mental health during your PhD: A survival guide’ by Dr Zoë Ayres is a fantastic resource for candidates and academics (and it’s available through many university libraries for free).

A PhD is a life-changing journey culminating in an extraordinary accomplishment. Everyone’s journey is different, including completion and what life after may bring – and that’s ok. We can all benefit from learning to better support each other regardless of what our journeys and futures look like.

Other reading

• The post-PhD blues (blogpost by Mariam Dalhoumi)
• Loss of identity: Surviving post-PhD depression (blogpost by Amy Gaeta)
• Post-PhD depression: Simple steps to recovery (video by Andy Stapleton)

Support services

• Mental health support agencies around the world (list compiled by CheckPoint)
• Lifeline Australia  – 13 11 14
• Head to health  (Australian government mental health site)
• Beyond Blue (Australia) offers short, over-the-phone counselling and a number of other resources.

Share this:

I had a depression for a year and is only just lifting and that was following my Masters degree- is this at all possible.,The degree was pretty intense because it was partially during Covid but can’t have been by far as stressful as a PhD

Thanks, Sophie. I’m sorry that you had such a rough time, and I hope that you are doing OK now. Thanks for sharing this with us. We all need support to get through these things, and I hope that you have the support that you need.

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‘You have to suffer for your PhD’: poor mental health among doctoral researchers – new research

Lecturer in Social Sciences, University of Westminster

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Cassie Hazell has received funding from the Office for Students.

University of Westminster provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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PhD students are the future of research, innovation and teaching at universities and beyond – but this future is at risk. There are already indications from previous research that there is a mental health crisis brewing among PhD researchers.

My colleagues and I studied the mental health of PhD researchers in the UK and discovered that, compared with working professionals, PhD students were more likely to meet the criteria for clinical levels of depression and anxiety. They were also more likely to have significantly more severe symptoms than the working-professional control group.

We surveyed 3,352 PhD students, as well as 1,256 working professionals who served as a matched comparison group . We used the questionnaires used by NHS mental health services to assess several mental health symptoms.

More than 40% of PhD students met the criteria for moderate to severe depression or anxiety. In contrast, 32% of working professionals met these criteria for depression, and 26% for anxiety.

The groups reported an equally high risk of suicide. Between 33% and 35% of both PhD students and working professionals met the criteria for “suicide risk”. The figures for suicide risk might be so high because of the high rates of depression found in our sample.

We also asked PhD students what they thought about their own and their peers’ mental health. More than 40% of PhD students believed that experiencing a mental health problem during your PhD is the norm. A similar number (41%) told us that most of their PhD colleagues had mental health problems.

Just over a third of PhD students had considered ending their studies altogether for mental health reasons.

There is clearly a high prevalence of mental health problems among PhD students, beyond those rates seen in the general public. Our results indicate a problem with the current system of PhD study – or perhaps with academic more widely. Academia notoriously encourages a culture of overwork and under-appreciation.

This mindset is present among PhD students. In our focus groups and surveys for other research , PhD students reported wearing their suffering as a badge of honour and a marker that they are working hard enough rather than too much. One student told us :

“There is a common belief … you have to suffer for the sake of your PhD, if you aren’t anxious or suffering from impostor syndrome, then you aren’t doing it "properly”.

We explored the potential risk factors that could lead to poor mental health among PhD students and the things that could protect their mental health.

Financial insecurity was one risk factor. Not all researchers receive funding to cover their course and personal expenses, and once their PhD is complete, there is no guarantee of a job. The number of people studying for a PhD is increasing without an equivalent increase in postdoctoral positions .

Another risk factor was conflict in their relationship with their academic supervisor . An analogy offered by one of our PhD student collaborators likened the academic supervisor to a “sword” that you can use to defeat the “PhD monster”. If your weapon is ineffective, then it makes tackling the monster a difficult – if not impossible – task. Supervisor difficulties can take many forms. These can include a supervisor being inaccessible, overly critical or lacking expertise.

A lack of interests or relationships outside PhD study, or the presence of stressors in students’ personal lives were also risk factors.

We have also found an association between poor mental health and high levels of perfectionism, impostor syndrome (feeling like you don’t belong or deserve to be studying for your PhD) and the sense of being isolated .

Better conversations

Doctoral research is not all doom and gloom. There are many students who find studying for a PhD to be both enjoyable and fulfilling , and there are many examples of cooperative and nurturing research environments across academia.

Studying for a PhD is an opportunity for researchers to spend several years learning and exploring a topic they are passionate about. It is a training programme intended to equip students with the skills and expertise to further the world’s knowledge. These examples of good practice provide opportunities for us to learn about what works well and disseminate them more widely.

The wellbeing and mental health of PhD students is a subject that we must continue to talk about and reflect on. However, these conversations need to happen in a way that considers the evidence, offers balance, and avoids perpetuating unhelpful myths.

Indeed, in our own study, we found that the percentage of PhD students who believed their peers had mental health problems and that poor mental health was the norm, exceeded the rates of students who actually met diagnostic criteria for a common mental health problem . That is, PhD students may be overestimating the already high number of their peers who experienced mental health problems.

We therefore need to be careful about the messages we put out on this topic, as we may inadvertently make the situation worse. If messages are too negative, we may add to the myth that all PhD students experience mental health problems and help maintain the toxicity of academic culture.

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What is Post-Graduation Depression and How to Overcome it

Post-Graduation Depression is not a term that could be found in the American Psychiatric Association's dictionary, but research shows how real it is and the impact it has on recent grads. Depression in young adults often occurs right after they complete university coursework, often due to pressure to get a job right away or sadness leaving their college peers and life behind, according to a medical journal Addictive Behaviors Reports .

In addition, by the time a student graduates from college, they have spent the majority of their lives as students. Dr. Matt Glowiak , clinical mental health counseling faculty at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), said that higher education students have attended school for close to 20 years and it has become a major part of their identity.

"When people face an obstacle that threatens their identity, mental health may become compromised," said Glowiak. He said questions such as, "Who am I?" "What will I do next?" "Will I be successful at seeking, attaining, and maintaining employment in my field?" and others may arise among recent graduates.

Factors That Could Lead to Post-Graduation Depression

Some of the factors that could lead to post-graduation depression, according to Dr. Lotes Nelson , clinical mental health counseling faculty at SNHU, include: 

• Transition involving changes in students' daily living arrangements, routines, and overall shift of mindset from student to working adults.
• Ease of connecting with friends and peers on campus and difficulties to do so after graduating. 
• Difficulties in acclimating to life in the mainstream.

Quite often, post-graduation depression is accompanied by a quarter-life crisis - a feeling that makes “twenty-somethings” doubt their life values and purpose. According to psychologists Joan Atwood and Corine Scholtz , a quarter-life crisis is, in many instances, supplemented with an emotional crisis—"the sense of desolation, isolation, inadequacy and self-doubt, coupled with a fear of failure."

Andrea Bard, associate professor of communication at SNHU and student advisor, said she often likes to compare the terrible 2s to the terrible 20s.

"When babies turn 2-years-old, they can be really difficult because they are figuring out how to be independent from their parents. When students are in their 20s they are kind of doing the same thing only bigger," she said, "they are trying to figure out how to be independent in the whole big world."

What are the Symptoms of Depression?

Post-graduation depression symptoms, according to Nelson, can include:

• Decreased motivation
• Loss of interest in pleasurable things
• A sense of disorganization
• General sense of hopelessness

In addition, Dr. Sheryl Ziegler , a licensed professional counselor, told the Washington Post that depressed new graduates often lack the motivation to get a job, as well as feeling lonely due to a lack of connection with friends. Ziegler also said that emerging adults might cope with depression with excessive alcohol consumption and recreational drug use since the college environment could have been more accepting of alcohol than life outside of college.

How to Prevent Post-Graduation Depression

For students approaching the end of their academic journey, there are ways to prevent post-graduation depression. Nelson suggested students and their mentors plan next steps before graduation.

Since campus-based college students are accustomed to easy access to basic needs, such as shelter, food, social events and activities, Nelson said planning is crucial to make a smooth transition to a new environment.

Some key factors to take into consideration in preventing post-graduation depression, according to Nelson, include:

• Plan for housing accommodations. Students should particularly consider resources wherever they land after graduation, whether returning home or to a new location.
• Develop a plan to create a support/network system to use as a resource. This involves thinking through who is around. Do students have friends when they return home or to a new place of residence? What will they need to do to build their social network?
• Plan ahead to manage the stressors that may come along after graduation. This may consist of engaging in daily exercise, meditation routine or creating a stress management plan .
• Explore career opportunities or additional schooling. If students choose to enter the workforce right after graduation, they should begin to prepare securing employment. Perhaps, connecting with a career counselor, employment agency or a recruiter to assist with the job search process would be beneficial. 

Nelson, who is a National Certified Counselor, also recommended that students consult with clinical mental health counselors to work through the emotional changes they might be experiencing and to assist them with the transitional process. These professionals have the necessary expertise and credentials needed to address students’ concerns.

Creating a daily schedule and having an action plan may help the individual in reaching their personal and professional goals. Nelson stated that as a part of establishing students' goal/s, it is crucial to ensure that they develop SMART goals .

Having a daily schedule may have beneficial impacts on many aspects of recent graduates' lives, including mental health. According to a nationally ranked academic medical center Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), some benefits of a daily routine include:

Better stress levels and improved mental health as a result of extra time to relax and less anxiety over making decisions on the go.

Better sleep habits and increased mental sharpness if the bedtime routine is also included in the schedule.

Better overall health due to extra planning. The more chores and activities are included in a schedule, the more organized one can become when it comes to developing healthy habits, such as eating breakfast on time or exercising. 

Where Should Students Seek Help?

National Alliance on Mental Health reports that 75% of mental health conditions develop by age 24. This age group fits into both categories of last college years and the post-college transition. Many schools today offer counseling services and academic advising available to students.

This means that students who feel depressed might look for help right on campus. Further, counseling professionals might recommend additional services to students to better fit their needs.

Glowiak also recommended reaching out directly to mentors.

“For me, it always helped to speak directly with my professors I regarded as mentors,” he said. “Each of these individuals faced similar situations prior to and upon graduation, and their experience may serve as guidance.”

These mentors might know students on a personal level, including their strengths and weaknesses and have knowledge of how to guide these individuals into the “real” world.

If a student does not feel comfortable seeking help within their academic institution, there are other services available, according to Nelson. Some national resources that are also available:

• SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24/7.
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America provides information on prevention, treatment and symptoms of anxiety, depression and related conditions.

It is crucial for students to remember and be reminded by mentors and professors that their depression does not define them in any way and it is possible to overcome it.

"It certainly helps to speak to someone. This helps students recognize that they are not alone in their feelings," said Glowiak.

He said recognizing that these feelings are relatively common for many students approaching graduation allows one to see that such depression is not necessarily pathological but a normal part of the human experience.

Aytaj Ismayilova is a content marketing assistant and communication student at SNHU. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

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How to handle the post ph.d. blues.

• November 28, 2016
• Posted by: Mike Rucker
• Category: Academic Life

For some of us the high that comes from a significant achievement can be followed by a period of feeling melancholy, or in some cases even malaise. It is not uncommon for new Ph.D. candidates to feel lost and empty. They struggle to find the motivation they once had after achieving such a herculean accomplishment. This has been well-documented in people completing marathons, for example. Months (or sometimes even years) of vigorous training leading up to a single athletic event… and then it is over leaving the runner feeling empty.

This phenomenon appears to be quite common among recent Ph.D. students as well. Some call it the post-dissertation slump; others refer to it more medically as post-dissertation stress disorder or post-dissertation depression. However, it is not our intent here to make the experience sound pathological; many students deal with some (unexpected) negative feelings after they have been hooded. One might describe it as being another part of the academic journey. Nonetheless, there is no harm in finding good ways to mitigate this down period, especially if it is effecting your well-being.

You have spent years on your coursework: managing your time, reading a barrage of articles (some of them interesting, while others… not so much), devoting all your energy to this worthy pursuit. Your sense of self can often become intertwined with the pursuit of a Ph.D. Accordingly, when that trajectory is no longer there, a sense of being lost is only natural. When you finally achieve your big goal, the feeling of ‘ so what now? ’ sneaks into your psyche.

Many students report experiencing a void after graduation. They can also feel insecure after graduation, especially if professional pursuits are not in the imminent future. The truth is academic life can sometimes be slightly removed from ‘reality’. Some struggle to make the transition out of academic life becoming somewhat paralyzed about what to do next. During your Ph.D. studies, the endgame is clear. Although some doubts would creep in occasionally, you usually feel dedicated and disciplined to see it through to the end. When the work is done, however, you are face with an entirely different road map. There is a lot of uncertainty and, sometimes, anxiety connected with a future unknown. The ‘unknown’ can pertain to different areas of life, such as future employment, finances, relocation, transforming the Ph.D. into something tangible, etc.

What should you do if you suddenly experience post dissertation depression and feel disheartened about things that used to excite you? Here are some things to keep in mind:

• First of all, remember that what you are feeling is natural; it will pass.
• You are not the only one experiencing a post dissertation low. Try to talk about it with other recent Ph.D. graduates or people working in academia. The likelihood is that they have experienced something similar at some point in their careers and will be able to relate/empathize.
• Focus on the exciting new opportunities that are ahead of you. You might have been oblivious to some of them in the past because you were so occupied with finalizing your dissertation. Find joy in discovering them now that you have more time.
• Revisit areas of your life you neglected while you were busy studying. This can may include engaging in some very un-academic activities/indulgences. Whatever works for you (as long as it is not inherently harmful) can bring some balance back into your life.
• Try to plan out your future career path. Consider all possibilities, without prejudice, and decide if you will continue in academia or maybe move on to industry. Be creative when thinking about different work positions and be open about trying new things… a lot of doors just opened, but you need to find them. Enjoy the quest!
• Even if you do not feel very motivated now, work on getting your Ph.D. material published, either in the form of journal articles or as a book. Publications can signal to your future employer (especially if you want a job in academia) that you will be an asset to their department.

Do not forget that you have just emerged from (likely) a very stressful period of your life. It is okay to allow some time to recover and recuperate, psychologically and physically. You have already showed what you are made of by graduating and there are other great things out there that will get you to engage with the same enthusiasm, if you simply take the time to seek and find them.

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Post-Dissertation

• Surviving the Post-Dissertation Slump The article offers the author's insights on the survival of the post-dissertation stress disorder and post dissertation depression during acedemic studies.
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• Last Updated: Oct 6, 2023 8:36 AM
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It's been a year since I graduated from college, and I still live at home. My therapist says I have post-graduation depression.

• I graduated from college a year ago and couldn't get a job, so I now live with my mom.
• My therapist told me I have post-graduation anxiety and depression.
• Im trying to see the bright side of this time in my life. 

I remember the day I graduated from college like it was yesterday. After five years of intense studying, I was thrilled to be done with the college phase of my life.

The graduation party with all my college friends was truly memorable. We were all so excited about the end of late-night reading. The atmosphere was electric, and everyone was having so much fun.

I was most excited about the prospect of independence. I was on the precipice of being able to live my life on my own terms — and I was truly optimistic about the future.

But a year has passed since graduation, and I'm now jobless , depressed, and confused about my future.

Post-grad life is nothing like I expected

I had always thought that my best life would begin after college, and I had no idea how unprepared I was for the reality of living in today's world.

I currently live at home with my mom; I had to move back in when I couldn't keep up with the bills since I was unemployed. In the last year, I seem to have lost touch with most of my college friends, and the few I've kept in touch with all seem to have their lives pretty figured out; they all seem to be starting new careers, traveling, or getting married.

Related stories

I feel like some sheer cosmic force has left me behind. 

I was never known to get beat up about life; I was the positive, upbeat friend who always encouraged others to have a positive outlook. So, my new take on life has been particularly surprising to my family and friends , but it has been surprising to me most of all.

Most days, I ask: What went wrong? What did I not do right? Is it possible I missed a step, and maybe that is why I got left in the funk? But my questions are just that, and no one seems to have an answer.

Instead, I am stuck going through the motions of living without really living. In the time I have been back home, I haven't missed a family gathering nor stopped hanging out with my childhood friends , and to most of them, I seem to have it all figured out. I don't bother correcting this impression, but looks can be deceiving. I know I am going through life numb, yet I have no idea how to stop it.

My therapist gave me an interesting diagnosis

After discussing these issues with my therapist, she told me I have post-graduation anxiety and depression . She told me she sees this issue among many college graduates she works with, especially recently.

My therapist insists I find pleasure in doing the little things, but that is easier said than done. One day, I feel just fine and start thinking maybe this depression is finally over, and the next, I am back to where I began. My biggest fear has been: Will this feeling ever truly go away, or is this my new normal? I don't want it to be. 

But here is an unexpected twist: In the last year I've been home, I have learned so much about myself amid all my struggles . I have been able to answer questions like who I am and what I really want when I take away the expectations of others. I'm gradually realizing I have never had a time off where I had no achievement to attain.

For the first time, I am truly just living, which is not bad. Maybe my body has not been living but rather just moving to an auto-response, and maybe that's why I am releasing all the stored-up energy.

I may never truly know the answers to all these questions, but I know I have decided to live my life without an outline, taking it one day at a time and doing my best with what I have been given.

Watch: Parents of Sandy Hook, Parkland victims outraged after Texas shooting

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• v.30(Suppl 1); 2021 Oct

Risk factors of postpartum depression

Amresh dubey.

Department of Psychiatry, Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune, Maharashtra, India

Kaushik Chatterjee

1 Department of Psychiatry, AFMC, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Vinay Singh Chauhan

Rachit sharma, ankit dangi, arka adhvaryu, background:.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common puerperal psychiatric illnesses impairing quality of life and mental health of the mother and also the child.

The aim is to study the prevalence and risk factors of PPD.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was done on a sample of 295 mothers who delivered and were followed up at a tertiary care hospital. The mothers were administered Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and demographic, psychosocial, and clinical data were collected.

The age of the participant mothers ranged from 18 to 35 years and age at marriage ranged from 21 to 24 years. In most of the mothers, the parity was 2 and they had institutional vaginal delivery. The prevalence of PPD in this population of mothers was 30.84%. The factors that had a statistically significant association with PPD included: lower educational status of mother, lower family income, rural place of residence, higher parity, preterm delivery, and adverse events in newborn.

Conclusion:

PPD is a common mental health problem in the postpartum period. Sociodemographic factors such as low educational status of mothers, rural population, and low monthly family income were found to be associated with PPD. Primipara status, preterm delivery, and adverse events in newborn were also significantly associated.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen in some women after delivery. Hippocrates hypothesized that postpartum symptoms were due to suppressed puerperal discharge or a direction of milk from breast to the brain or influx of the blood to the breast. Subsequent literature divided psychiatric disorders of mothers in the reproductive age group into “insanity of pregnancy,” “puerperal insanity,” and “insanity of lactation.” The increased risk of mental illness in newly delivered mothers has been recognized since Esquirol description of postpartum psychosis in 1845.[ 1 ] In India, social and cultural beliefs about the postpartum period are often based on Ayurveda and other age-old traditions. Mental health stigma and social norms in India often prevent mothers from reaching out for professional help.[ 2 ] Many of the cases go unreported because the focus shifts from the mother to the baby after delivery. Hence, even when mothers face physical exhaustion, weakness, and an overall lack of physical and mental well-being, it tends to go unnoticed not only by the family members but even by the mothers themselves.[ 3 ] Mental disorders are said to be of postpartum onset if the onset is within 6 weeks of delivery, according to the International Classification of Disease-10, Classification of Mental and Behavioral Disorders-Research and Diagnostic Criteria.[ 4 ] Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 th Edition states that the onset must occur within 4 weeks of delivery and symptoms must last at least 2 weeks to qualify as a depressive episode.[ 5 ] A systematic review of 47 studies from 18 countries reported a prevalence of 19.8% and suggested that the burden of perinatal mental health disorders, including PPD, is high in low- and lower-middle-income countries.[ 6 ] A meta-analysis of 38 studies involving 20,043 Indian mothers revealed overall prevalence of PPD to be 22%.[ 7 ] Another meta-analysis of 84 studies revealed that the important significant predictors of PPD are the presence of depression before or during pregnancy, life events, marital relationship, and socioeconomic status.[ 8 ] PPD has been conceptualized in a biopsychosocial framework with hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis dysregulation, inflammatory process, and genetic vulnerabilities as biological factors, as well as stressful life events, quality of relationship, and social support among significant psychosocial factors.[ 9 ] Despite the growing number of empirical studies in regional communities on PPD in India, there is a lack of hospital-based study of heterogeneous population, using a valid screening tool that looks not only at the overall burden of PPD but also at its associated risk factors.[ 7 ] The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and to describe the risk factors of PPD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional, observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital on mothers in the age group of 18–35 years who had delivered either at labor room or operation theater, had reported to obstetrics and gynecology or pediatric outpatient departments (OPDs), and were willing to participate in the study. The study obtained permission from the institutional ethical committee. All subjects gave informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a diagnosis of intellectual disability, substance use disorders, central nervous system disorders, psychosis, bipolar disorders, preexisting depression
• Critically ill patients.

A total of 295 women who had delivered between December 1, 2018, and September 30, 2020, were included. The biographical, sociodemographic, medical, and obstetric data of the consenting mothers were recorded on a specially designed pro forma. Any uneducated subjects were helped by researcher in filling the pro forma and questionnaires. Psychosocial stressors, addiction in husband, and domestic violence during the past 1 year were assessed by means of a brief interview.

The women were reviewed in their postpartum phase in the postnatal ward/child immunization clinic after delivery. Those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were taken up for study. They were screened by using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). EPDS is a self-reporting questionnaire which was designed to detect depression among women in the postpartum period.[ 10 ] The EPDS focuses on psychological rather than somatic symptoms of depression and demonstrates high sensitivity and reliability for the detection of PPD. It consists of ten items. Each item has four responses, which are scored from 0 to 3 based on severity. The cutoff score indicative of depression was taken as 12. The EPDS has 86% sensitivity, 78% specificity, and 73% positive predictive value (proportion of respondents scoring positive in the test who had a mental disorder diagnosed by clinical interview). Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency) of EPDS has been found to be 0.83.[ 11 ] This scale was administered at obstetrics and gynecology or pediatric OPDs during follow-up.

A diagnosis of depression was made only if the criteria for a depressive episode as per the ICD-10 Diagnostic Criteria for Research were met.[ 4 ] All diagnosed cases were provided appropriate intervention. Clearance was obtained from the institutional ethics committee before commencing interaction with patients. Data analysis was done by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Version 25.0. (IBM, Chicago, USA) using appropriate statistical tests.

The prevalence of PPD is presented in Table 1 . The age of the participant mothers ranged from 18 to 35 years. Other demographic characteristics are summarized in Table 2 . Clinical characteristics of the subjects are shown in Table 3 . Correlation of PPD with sociodemographic factors and clinical factors is given in Tables ​ Tables3 3 - ​ -5, 5 , respectively.

Prevalence of postpartum depression

Sociodemographic characteristics

Clinical characteristics

LSCS – Lower segment cesarean section; UTI – Urinary tract infection

Correlation of postpartum depression with clinical factors

LSCS – Lower segment cesarean section

Correlation of postpartum depression with sociodemographic factors

P >0.05 (not significant) Chi-square test used

The study revealed a 30.84% prevalence of PPD among the participant mothers. Similar finding of 27.2% was also reported among 14,447 Turkish postpartum mothers and of 35.5% was reported among 895 Indian postpartum mothers.[ 12 , 13 ]

Risk factors related to postpartum depression

Place of residence.

In this study, 95 (32%) were from rural background of whom 40 (42%) were depressed ( P ≤ 0.05). Meit et al . reported that mothers from rural areas were at greater risk for the development of PPD.[ 14 ] An integrative review of 11 articles also reported higher prevalence of PPD in rural areas.[ 15 ] On the other hand, a study of 6126 postpartum mothers of Canada found the prevalence of PPD to be higher among women living in urban areas than among those living in rural, semirural, or semiurban areas.[ 16 ] Community-based studies of PPD in India, in agreement with our findings, revealed that the prevalence of PPD was higher among the rural population.[ 17 , 18 ] This association may be consequence of many factors such as differences in socioeconomic status, education, lower awareness, and stigma of mental illness.

Adverse events in newborn

It has been reported that depression during postpartum period was significantly associated with adverse events in newborn.[ 19 , 20 ] A meta-analysis among 12,810 postpartum mothers revealed sickness or death of newborn associated with increased prevalence of PPD.[ 21 ] Similarly, the present study also observed a significant association between maternal PPD and live birth with complications. Complications in the child or death are associated with stress response, triggering depressive symptoms.

Preterm delivery

In this study, 18.3% of mothers had preterm deliveries out of which 59% developed PPD. A systematic review and meta-analysis revealed preterm birth to be a risk factor for PPD.[ 22 ] A prospective cohort study also found a significant association between duration of pregnancy and PPD.[ 23 ] This may be related to biological vulnerability of the mother to unexpected hormonal and homeostatic changes during preterm deliveries.

Educational status of mother

Our study found a statistically significant association between lower level of education and PPD, which is in agreement with the findings of earlier studies.[ 24 , 25 ] It is hypothesized that low education is related to reduced awareness about postpartum care and good child-rearing practices.

Family income

Our study further found that the prevalence of PPD falls with rise in monthly family income. Our results are in consonance with the results of an earlier study.[ 26 ] Financial constraints possibly lower the spending on health and well-being of the mother.

Primiparous mothers had significantly higher prevalence of PPD in the present study. Similarly, in a study of 1503 primiparous and 1487 multiparous mothers, parity was significantly associated with PPD. Primipara mothers have more discomfort and problems in the puerperium, compared to multipara mothers. The multiparous mothers have more satisfaction and experience acquired with previous children. These were possibly the reason for lower reports of PPD.[ 27 ]

Age of mother and age at marriage

This study did not reveal any significant association between maternal age and PPD. Similar findings were also reported by other studies where no significant association was found between maternal age and PPD.[ 28 , 29 ] Further, no statistically significant association was found between age at marriage and PPD which is in agreement with earlier studies.[ 28 , 29 ]

A structured, reliable, and widely accepted instrument, the EPDS was used in this study. Participant mothers were from a heterogeneous geographical origin of the armed forces population, representing the diversity of the Indian population. It improved the external validity of the study. A large number of variables (maternal age, age at marriage, parity, family income, duration of pregnancy, medical complications during pregnancy, etc.,) were evaluated for detailed analysis of risk factors of PPD.

Limitations

This was a cross-sectional study design without a control group. The study was carried out among both inpatients and outpatients. Hence, the possibility of recall bias among outpatients exists. The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in a metropolitan city. The sample was not truly representative of the population as more complicated cases are referred there. Therefore, the results may not be generalized to the community.

PPD is a common mental health problem in the puerperal period. Sociodemographic factors such as lower educational status of mothers, rural population, and lower family income were associated with PPD. Primipara status, preterm delivery, and adverse events in newborn were also significantly associated.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.