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Anxiety

M

Hello everyone,

I guess I’m just looking for a little bit of advice.
I have just accepted an unconditional offer for a fully funded studentship looking into a rare group of blood cancers, which is due to start in October.
I couldn’t eat or sleep when preparing for the interview as I really put all of my hopes on this studentship. I couldn’t eat or sleep after the interview waiting for an answer either way also. But ever since I was offered this position, I have been suffering from what I can only describe as Imposter Syndrome. I’m afraid that I’m not good enough.
My anxiety has just peaked however, as my future supervisor has sent me the preliminary study protocol. This is a massive multi-disciplinary study involving multiple institutions.
I’m really afraid. How can I tell if I’ll be up to it? How do I know if I’m good enough?

Thank you all for giving me your time in reading this.

M

E

Quote From Mademoisella:
Hello everyone,

I guess I’m just looking for a little bit of advice.
I have just accepted an unconditional offer for a fully funded studentship looking into a rare group of blood cancers, which is due to start in October.
I couldn’t eat or sleep when preparing for the interview as I really put all of my hopes on this studentship. I couldn’t eat or sleep after the interview waiting for an answer either way also. But ever since I was offered this position, I have been suffering from what I can only describe as Imposter Syndrome. I’m afraid that I’m not good enough.
My anxiety has just peaked however, as my future supervisor has sent me the preliminary study protocol. This is a massive multi-disciplinary study involving multiple institutions.
I’m really afraid. How can I tell if I’ll be up to it? How do I know if I’m good enough?

Thank you all for giving me your time in reading this.

M

Hello. All these feelings are normal. You have been accepted for this PhD. Just concentrate and follow the normal advices like organisation and hard work. Good luck.

M

Thank you for you response, eng77.

I really hope my original message doesn’t come across as ungrateful or complaining. I am so happy for this opportunity.
At the same time, I just don’t feel good enough and wondered really if anyone else had felt this way and went on to have a great experience, or if these thoughts continued to plague throughout.

I’m not afraid of hard work though, so you’re right - hopefully digging in at 100% will help me shift some anxiety. You can’t feel anxious if you don’t have time for such thoughts.

:)

Take care,

M

R

Quote From Mademoisella:
Thank you for you response, eng77.

I really hope my original message doesn’t come across as ungrateful or complaining. I am so happy for this opportunity.
At the same time, I just don’t feel good enough and wondered really if anyone else had felt this way and went on to have a great experience, or if these thoughts continued to plague throughout.

I’m not afraid of hard work though, so you’re right - hopefully digging in at 100% will help me shift some anxiety. You can’t feel anxious if you don’t have time for such thoughts.

:)

Take care,

M


Yes! I am starting research now even though I start in September so that I don’t have time for anxious thoughts! I’m too busy haha

M

Oh gosh, that’s very organised of you, waitinggame :). Well done!

Today I was invited to take part in an online workshop for the understanding, handling and sharing of cancer data in my country by my supervisor. Having small things to focus on does help to ease the anxious thoughts a little.

Good luck with your PhD studies and thank you for taking your time to respond :).

E

Quote From Mademoisella:
Thank you for you response, eng77.

I really hope my original message doesn’t come across as ungrateful or complaining. I am so happy for this opportunity.
At the same time, I just don’t feel good enough and wondered really if anyone else had felt this way and went on to have a great experience, or if these thoughts continued to plague throughout.

I’m not afraid of hard work though, so you’re right - hopefully digging in at 100% will help me shift some anxiety. You can’t feel anxious if you don’t have time for such thoughts.

:)

Take care,

M


Your message reveals the normal anxiety before starting something big. PhD is something that you should worry about. Try to balance between worrying too much or thinking it is a normal 9:00 to 5:00 work. Most PhD students graduate with a PhD (although I have not) with a bit of hard work, good organisation, and "not bad" supervision.

R

Quote From Mademoisella:
Oh gosh, that’s very organised of you, waitinggame :). Well done!

Today I was invited to take part in an online workshop for the understanding, handling and sharing of cancer data in my country by my supervisor. Having small things to focus on does help to ease the anxious thoughts a little.

Good luck with your PhD studies and thank you for taking your time to respond :).


Haha! Thank you so much. And yes it really does work but I suppose if you want to get to the root of the problem, a university counsellor might help? Good luck with the workshop! Xxx

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