Is it a mental disease that is curable? Feel it is difficult to focus.
May 2, 2012 9:53 AM Subscribe
It looks like procrastination, and I do not know where to start my graduate lab work. Is it a mental disease that is curable? Feel it is difficult to focus.
If someone experiences similar mindsets, please share how you get out of it. Big bow!
If someone experiences similar mindsets, please share how you get out of it. Big bow!
In addition to what dsm says above, I'd categorize it as symptomatic of GAD in myself.
You could ask your doctor for some as-needed anxiety meds to get you through this hurdle, but ultimately, behavioral changes (like suggested above) are the best bet.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:32 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
You could ask your doctor for some as-needed anxiety meds to get you through this hurdle, but ultimately, behavioral changes (like suggested above) are the best bet.
posted by IAmBroom at 10:32 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I think we need more details. Is this something you've experienced before, or is it just with this? I used to feel like this with EVERY big project until I started treatment for ADHD, but that was a persistent and chronic issue.
If it's just with this project, here's what's helped me get started on big projects that I'm procrastinating on: look at what exactly is holding you back. What emotions come up when you think about starting? Very often what seems like laziness or procrastination is actually some sort of fear or anxiety about a project.
Make a list of the things you would need to do to get started, and then look at that list. Is there anything there that makes you feel anxious or insecure? If so, start with one of the tasks that doesn't make you feel that way. If not, then just pick one task and just start it - don't worry about the others yet. Sometimes you just need to start doing something.
You might also want to speak with a therapist at your school's health center. From what I know of doctoral students, this is insanely common.
posted by lunasol at 10:38 AM on May 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
If it's just with this project, here's what's helped me get started on big projects that I'm procrastinating on: look at what exactly is holding you back. What emotions come up when you think about starting? Very often what seems like laziness or procrastination is actually some sort of fear or anxiety about a project.
Make a list of the things you would need to do to get started, and then look at that list. Is there anything there that makes you feel anxious or insecure? If so, start with one of the tasks that doesn't make you feel that way. If not, then just pick one task and just start it - don't worry about the others yet. Sometimes you just need to start doing something.
You might also want to speak with a therapist at your school's health center. From what I know of doctoral students, this is insanely common.
posted by lunasol at 10:38 AM on May 2, 2012 [4 favorites]
What really helps is showing a friend or classmate your work or hanging out with someone also working on something that requires an effort similar to your work. Many people function poorly when completely on their own. Even just sharing a lab or study room with others can help. Once you have got through a few projects on your own it does get easier though.
posted by meepmeow at 11:13 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by meepmeow at 11:13 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Big thanks to DSM, IAmBroom, and lunasol ! I just summarized what you said for my quick review:
1. Breaking work into tiny chunks
2. Breaking work time into slots of short periods with a reward at every end
3. Find out the emotional root which could be something making me insecure
4. Symptom of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), so ask for professional help from therapists
5. etc.
I feel that I was/am in this emotion in several cases when I face some projects, especially when I am working on them but without communication with other people. To me it is kind of clear that my procrastination or laziness is a result of bad emotions from personal life. For example, I feel a lack of confidence and security about myself due to several things or situations happened or just was around me in the last half year:
1. I was dumped by my gf the beginning of this year, which I was not willing to
2. Manuscript of my research paper was rejected when I submitted it to a journal, and I felt frustrated
3. I have a roommate she complains when I do not drive to friends along the exact way she requires, park in a lot she does not like, or drop her off several feet far away from where she pinpoints, etc. So we do not talk much even though we live under the same roof
4. My lab environment is kind of isolated from others, in which I could not see or talk to much people
5. I feel anxiety, and seek to flirt with different female friends but in final feel more unsatisfied about myself, because I know there is no possibility of establishing a long term relationship
6. I also smoke two packs of cigarettes every week to relieve myself, but recently tried tens of times to get rid of smoking and failed
7. I feel potential pressures from job hunting, as I am going to graduate in two years
8. So, in general, I do not feel satisfied about myself, and feel reluctant to do my job which is writing and experimenting; on the other hand, I enjoy travelling, making new female friends, body building and excising, and reading forum posts. I mean, life is not such bad that I could not even enjoy any
posted by onkyo at 11:41 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
1. Breaking work into tiny chunks
2. Breaking work time into slots of short periods with a reward at every end
3. Find out the emotional root which could be something making me insecure
4. Symptom of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), so ask for professional help from therapists
5. etc.
I feel that I was/am in this emotion in several cases when I face some projects, especially when I am working on them but without communication with other people. To me it is kind of clear that my procrastination or laziness is a result of bad emotions from personal life. For example, I feel a lack of confidence and security about myself due to several things or situations happened or just was around me in the last half year:
1. I was dumped by my gf the beginning of this year, which I was not willing to
2. Manuscript of my research paper was rejected when I submitted it to a journal, and I felt frustrated
3. I have a roommate she complains when I do not drive to friends along the exact way she requires, park in a lot she does not like, or drop her off several feet far away from where she pinpoints, etc. So we do not talk much even though we live under the same roof
4. My lab environment is kind of isolated from others, in which I could not see or talk to much people
5. I feel anxiety, and seek to flirt with different female friends but in final feel more unsatisfied about myself, because I know there is no possibility of establishing a long term relationship
6. I also smoke two packs of cigarettes every week to relieve myself, but recently tried tens of times to get rid of smoking and failed
7. I feel potential pressures from job hunting, as I am going to graduate in two years
8. So, in general, I do not feel satisfied about myself, and feel reluctant to do my job which is writing and experimenting; on the other hand, I enjoy travelling, making new female friends, body building and excising, and reading forum posts. I mean, life is not such bad that I could not even enjoy any
posted by onkyo at 11:41 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for your nice suggestion meepmeow. I like your idea of communicating research progress with classmates. Sharing a lab sounds good but every of us work in a lab and small office of our own.
posted by onkyo at 11:47 AM on May 2, 2012
posted by onkyo at 11:47 AM on May 2, 2012
Hm, well, honestly I'm a big fan of addressing one problem at a time. I apologize if I opened a Pandora's Box with the emotional stuff - I was specifically referring to emotions around the specific tasks. But reading your follow-up, it sounds like you have a lot of upheaval and stress in your life and a few sessions with a therapist would be helpful.
posted by lunasol at 5:49 PM on May 2, 2012
posted by lunasol at 5:49 PM on May 2, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Do one 15 minute task, then reward yourself by, I don't know, watching an episode of your favorite TV show. Then do 2 15-minute tasks, followed by a reward, then three, and so on.
Eventually you'll find that there's a hedonic feedback loop here - it feels good to cross things off the list and you'll want to keep doing it.
posted by downing street memo at 10:10 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]