Based on my own experience and conversations with many PhD students and therapists, I’ve identified some of the common issues, feelings and behaviors of PhD students, which often relate to the distinct features of doing a PhD.
Independent work
Competition
Finding innovative ideas under the pressure of time
Very high standards
Very long-term objectives (publish a paper)
Uncertain/low pay
No fixed structure of the day
Perfectionism
Fear of failure
Feeling lost
Procrastination
Loneliness
Long-term stress
Anxiety
You compare yourself too much to colleagues
You don’t ask a question in a seminar not to sound stupid
You identify yourself with your paper
You are scared to talk to your advisor
You don’t know how to deal with criticism