Navigating Graduate School with a Mental Illness

Psychologist Deborah Serani, Psy.D, was working with a young man who was struggling with a severe bout of social anxiety and chronic depression during his first trimester of grad school. Interacting with his classmates and giving presentations were excruciating. He considered dropping out. This is understandable. Grad school is hard enough. When you have a mental illness, it can feel impossible. Thankfully, it’s not. Below, three psychologists shared their suggestions for success. Learn about your mental illness. Working with a therapist can help you better understand your condition and yourself. What’s also helpful is to check out self-help books, podcasts about mental health and blogs by people with similar struggles. “The more you know about your mental illness, the more you can set realistic goals,” said Serani, who specializes in mood disorders and has penned three award-winning books on depression. For instance, you pick a topic for your thesis that doesn’t have too many moving parts, so if your depression deepens, you won’t be sidelined, she said. You also don’t over-schedule yourself and take breaks between classes to refuel. This helps you feel “‘proactive’ instead of ‘limited’ by your mental illness.” You also explore and capitalize on your strengths. Seek treatment—and stay consistent. Serani, who lives with chronic depression, was in psychotherapy during her training. “This enabled me to problem solve, explore issues and maintain a ...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Disorders General Self-Help Stress Students grad students Graduate School Graduate Students Mental Health Mental Illness Self Care self-compassion success Source Type: news