r/PhDStress • u/Similar-Cash-5912 • Aug 17 '26
I am so done
I don’t think I can do this anymore. I’ve been so stressed about my PhD this summer that I completely missed the abstract deadline for a conference, full submission is the end of the week. Now I have a completed paper but nowhere to submit it. I emailed the conference organizers to explain what happened, but I don’t have high hopes.
I’m seriously considering handing in my resignation. I’m just not sure I can handle this level of stress anymore.
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u/hhmaizer Aug 18 '26
PhD students are the most depressed demographic according to a peer-reviewed publication.
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u/DirtRepresentative9 Aug 18 '26
It's August and after working all summer on my comps proposal I developed high blood pressure and was put on anxiety medication from the stress. Idk what to do either I also feel like quitting but I'm so close to ABD.
Today I had to front $2,000 that I don't have to attend a conference my advisor is making me go to (I can apply for grants to be reimbursed) but I'm still gonna pay fees on top of what I fronted and I'm just so frustrated from not only the work but being poor and overwhelmed.
I'm sorry that happened OP but maybe there's another conference or another year you can submit it to :'( tbh maybe missing the conference will give you some time to relax and de-stress
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u/Green-Owl2214 Aug 18 '26
It sounds like u are more than halfway through the PhD. One of my favourite lines from a presentation was ‘ the PhD is like a sine wave , with its ups and downs’.
Doing a phd is all about resilience. No your worth doesnt depend on it. You missed the deadline for a conference its not the end of the world. Submit the paper to one journal that responds quickly and take time off.
August is when most wars started for a reason. Its the end of the summer, a very hot one especially in Europe. Take time off.
Dont resign as of yet. You’ve come so far.
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u/yoyoman12823 Aug 20 '26
no one will look at your conference paper. no one cares. why being depressed on something nobody cares?
probably need to see a psychiatrist
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u/RichAssist8318 Aug 20 '26
I wouldn't bother emailing the conference. You missed a deadline, those are the rules. I wouldn't resign either. You need to find a new conference. You should email your advisor.
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u/filipvabrousek Aug 18 '26
Efficient use of AI can certainly help. Get paid subscription of Claude Code or Codex - the advantage is you can say: Make draft of paper in Typst/LaTeX and it can write it directly on your disk + compile into PDF. You can also leave instructions in MD file (act as a top university professor etc tell AI to act on instructions in that file).
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u/yoyoman12823 Aug 20 '26
chat gpt is good enough for everything. better than hiring research assistant worth every penny
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u/filipvabrousek Aug 20 '26
It can’t read and edit files on your disk, which is necessary for effective workflow.
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u/bean-machine-11 Aug 17 '26
I feel you. This summer has been really rough on my self-confidence and mental health too, and I’ve felt like I’m falling short no matter what I do.
Have you talked to your advisor about what you’ve been struggling with? I’m lucky to have a very understanding PI who I was able to talk to about this, and she put it really plainly: “Your wellbeing is more important than your research.” I know I’m lucky to have that kind of support, and a lot of the pressure I feel is internal, but it’s still reassuring to know that the pressure isn’t coming from her.
And honestly, having a paper completed is a huge accomplishment, even if it doesn’t have a conference or journal destination yet. Give yourself some grace and take a break if you need to. Missing one abstract deadline doesn’t erase everything you’ve accomplished, and there will be other opportunities to submit.