Depression Diagnosis, want to drop out of PhD « Economics Job Market Rumors

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Thread: 192 Goods vs 112 No Goods

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Depression Diagnosis, want to drop out of PhD

Economist
82b0

I'm a 3rd year PhD at an HRM. The Econ PhD experience was very humbling and not what I expected. I haven't been able to concentrate on anything, and after some persuasion by well meaning friends, I consulted a shrink. He diagnosed me with moderate depression.

I feel like dropping out. I don't want to become an academic economist. I wanted to do Empirical International Finance, but now I'd much rather just get my health and life back on track.

What are my options if I drop out? Should I push really hard and somehow just finish my PhD?

Help me, please. Any advice will be appreciated.

6 years ago # QUOTE 30 Good 3 No Good !
Economist
82b0

Also, do I take antidepressant pills? The whole psychiatry-pharma nexus seems to be designed to sucker unsuspecting patients. Can I beat it using exercise/meditation/diet?

6 years ago # QUOTE 9 Good 2 No Good !
Economist
2408

I'm a 3rd year PhD at an HRM. The Econ PhD experience was very humbling and not what I expected. I haven't been able to concentrate on anything, and after some persuasion by well meaning friends, I consulted a shrink. He diagnosed me with moderate depression.
I feel like dropping out. I don't want to become an academic economist. I wanted to do Empirical International Finance, but now I'd much rather just get my health and life back on track.
What are my options if I drop out? Should I push really hard and somehow just finish my PhD?
Help me, please. Any advice will be appreciated.

You should take at least a dose of heroin. It'll help you out of the brutal realities of academic life.

6 years ago # QUOTE 5 Good 94 No Good !
Economist
1458

Have you had your blood pressure checked lately? I get depressed when it goes up. You could try taking a blood-thinning pain killer (like aspirin) or avoid salty foods for a while, and see if it makes you feel better. Exercise (long walks, running) also helps.

6 years ago # QUOTE 10 Good 3 No Good !
Economist
a1f0

I think most people get a bit depressed at some point during the PhD. Fighting through it is one option. I assume you've passed prelims. Do you have an advisor yet? Have you started on any research topics?

Whatever you decide, try not to be too hard on yourself. Most of us probably had delusions of winning a Nobel at some point, but will never come close to that in reality.

I found reading "PhD comics" therapeutic because it shows that lot of others are going through the same thing.

Finding a girlfriend really helps too, though that may be easier said than done.

6 years ago # QUOTE 37 Good 2 No Good !
Economist
e080

Think that you are challenging yourself not only academically but psychologically as well. Having the opportunity to do a PhD is not something that everybody has, so just sit back and enjoy the remaining years, of course if you enjoy economics... if you dont like it, then change and do something you really like. I would try to avoid meds, but it depends on how serious your situation is. Everybody that does a PhD has doubts and feels lost at some point.. so hang in there and you will see the light!

6 years ago # QUOTE 8 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
82b0

I have an advisor and research ideas, very good ones at that. However, I am just unable to execute anything. It is almost like my mind has come to a screeching halt.

6 years ago # QUOTE 6 Good 3 No Good !
Economist
a1f0

It is natural to feel some burn-out after two years of classes and exams. Maybe ease up for a couple months, then try again to get focused.

6 years ago # QUOTE 5 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
fac0

When I am depressed, OP, I lay down, take my copy of Macroeconomics in Emerging Markets by Peter Montiel which is on my shelf, and read it. As a result, all of a sudden I realize how beautiful life is.

6 years ago # QUOTE 31 Good 3 No Good !
Economist
1fdb

For people earnestly looking for help look elsewhere.

For troll op: op no good op beta try moscow russia i mean this in the least arrogant way possible

6 years ago # QUOTE 5 Good 13 No Good !
Economist
6151

"a quick one" may help...

6 years ago # QUOTE 8 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
82b0

Thanks

6 years ago # QUOTE 2 Good 1 No Good !
Economist
d7be

I feel you, stress is hard. What is important to realize is that the root of you depressions probably is only the stress. If you think hard, you probably live an OK life with a few good friends, some good music and food and perhaps a hobby. These things are enough for living a good life.

Rate of Depression= beta_0 + beta_1*stress has a high R^2.

Life is not meaningless.

6 years ago # QUOTE 12 Good 1 No Good !
Economist
2408

For people earnestly looking for help look elsewhere.
For troll op: op no good op beta try moscow russia i mean this in the least arrogant way possible

That's why I told the OP to take a dose of heroin, because I know that he's a troll here. If he really is in such a situation, he'd turn elsewhere, not here. Obviously his post is an obviously troll.

Surprised that most of the people here believed his story and take it seriously

6 years ago # QUOTE 2 Good 21 No Good !
Economist
6a91

hooker + coke = ???

6 years ago # QUOTE 3 Good 4 No Good !
Economist
ccf8

Try to take some time off and apply for private sector internships. If you like the internship and the firm offer to hire you, drop the PhD. It would only get worse if you force yourself into a career that you don't like.

6 years ago # QUOTE 10 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
e080

cf8c thats a good idea

6 years ago # QUOTE 2 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
4a8d

antidepressants worked for me.

6 years ago # QUOTE 3 Good 4 No Good !
Economist
4e8f

I'm a 3rd year PhD at an HRM. The Econ PhD experience was very humbling and not what I expected. I haven't been able to concentrate on anything, and after some persuasion by well meaning friends, I consulted a shrink. He diagnosed me with moderate depression.
I feel like dropping out. I don't want to become an academic economist. I wanted to do Empirical International Finance, but now I'd much rather just get my health and life back on track.
What are my options if I drop out? Should I push really hard and somehow just finish my PhD?
Help me, please. Any advice will be appreciated.

I'm a 3rd year PhD at an HRM. The Econ PhD experience was very humbling and not what I expected. I haven't been able to concentrate on anything, and after some persuasion by well meaning friends, I consulted a shrink. He diagnosed me with moderate depression.
I feel like dropping out. I don't want to become an academic economist. I wanted to do Empirical International Finance, but now I'd much rather just get my health and life back on track.
What are my options if I drop out? Should I push really hard and somehow just finish my PhD?
Help me, please. Any advice will be appreciated.

Remember the minimum standard for getting the doctorate is not high, if you tell your supervisor you are not going on the academic job market. Punch out three ok chapters as quickly as you can and then get a private sector job. For instance, take somebody else's methodology and apply it to a new data set. That should be enough, and will skill you up for the private sector where technical competence and the ability to get projects done quickly will be at a premium rather than originality. Btw I spent three years in the private sector before starting research. Now I am ap.

6 years ago # QUOTE 26 Good 0 No Good !
Economist
4e8f

For people earnestly looking for help look elsewhere.
For troll op: op no good op beta try moscow russia i mean this in the least arrogant way possible
That's why I told the OP to take a dose of heroin, because I know that he's a troll here. If he really is in such a situation, he'd turn elsewhere, not here. Obviously his post is an obviously troll.
Surprised that most of the people here believed his story and take it seriously

He may be a troll, but the situation he describes is, I fear, actually very common, especially at hrm institutions whe the top of the class are going to be frighteningly bright.

I suffered from depression in my first year of phd. I perceived some of the material as overly hard, and dealing with it overly stressful. But I persevered. In the end I came top in prelims, and am now an ap at a top 30 school with what I consider to be a decent set of pubs which are likely to get me tenure.

6 years ago # QUOTE 19 Good 1 No Good !

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