Help I think I've Gone Crazy
By Carolyn Elizabeth, Ph.D.

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THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
Devoted to practical steps for completing
your doctoral dissertation.
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INDEX
1. Ben's Note
2. "Help I think I've gone crazy"
     By Carolyn Elizabeth, Ph.D.
3. Words of Wisdom

SUMMARY
In this issue, recent Ph.D., Dr. Carolyn
Elizabeth, shares some ideas for dealing
with the emotional intensity of the
dissertation process.

We round it out with Words of Wisdom.
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Ben's Note

May 1, 2003

Dear ABD Survival Guide Reader,

I'm pleased to present this week's
feature article, by Carolyn Elizabeth, Ph.D.,
as Dr. Elizabeth is a recent Ph.D. who
shares with us some ideas for managing
the emotional intensity of the dissertation
process.

If you could use a few more sources of
helpful tips, check out our Words of
Wisdom section.

See you in two weeks.

Warmly,
Ben
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"Help, I Think I've Gone Crazy"
By: Carolyn Elizabeth, Ph.D.
======================================================

Have you noticed that since beginning your dissertation,
you've tended to be more anxious, more emotional, more
talkative, more high strung, frankly, more insane than you
used to be? Well, this article is for those of us who feel
like we are losing our minds, written by someone who surely
has (so keep that in mind while reading.)

Over the course of this dissertation process, I must
confess to have lost many valuable sanity points. I
probably didn't start out too sane (after all I am in
psychology,) but working on my dissertation has only
increased my level of insanity exponentially. I used to
have a bit of a screen (my friends would say not much of
one, but still it was there.) A screen is the thing that
keeps you from saying everything you are thinking at all
times. You know like you when you're at a coffee shop and
someone orders a raspberry soy latte, a screen would
prevent you from saying "That's disgusting!" Yes, without a
screen, one just says exactly what one is thinking.

One of the difficulties in not having a screen is that as
it allows everything to come out it also allows everything
to come in. Someone's in a bad mood, you're in a bad mood.
Someone's allergic to milk, you're allergic to milk. So
far in the past 4 months, I've been dying from three
different kinds of cancer, been invaded by a deadly fungus,
been convinced I had a flat tire that was going to result
in my being stranded in a bad neighborhood (we don't even
have any of those where I live), have had an untreatable
form of acne, an immaculate pregnancy, several mysterious
viruses, and six recurrent injuries. What once was just
anxiety about my dissertation is now compounded by my
chronic fear of well, uhm everything. So, how to deal ever
growing anxiety?

Embrace your lack of screen. Do not attempt to edit
yourself. This will not work and may thus result in
implosion. Instead, go with the flow on revealing your
thoughts. Be sure to discuss your latest fear about alien
abductions with one and all, including your Starbuck's
barista. He is very interested in your theories on such
happenings. My friends and I have also found in-depth
discussions about various medications we are on, have been
on, or are thinking of being to be particularly enjoyable.
(You may find this enjoyment heightened by adding in your
therapist's input about said medications and general state
of insanity, especially when chitchatting with
aforementioned Starbuck's barista.) In addition, be sure
in all your discourse to frequently mention to one and all
that you are writing your dissertation. People will think
you are smart. I have found this to be very helpful,
especially when I'm feeling like a moron whose dissertation
is going to wind up in "The Journal of Dumb Ideas".

So, to sum up here (a difficult task for me), I would say
do not fear should your dissertation be wreaking havoc on
your mental health. You are in good company and
dissertation induced insanity can have its benefits. Just
be sure to speak freely and you will find good things
coming to you (mine tends to come in the form of easily
written prescriptions but has also included): offers of
wine, kindness from strangers, dinner invitations, and most
recently people planning a party for my dissertation
defense. Oh, I can't wait 'til that day. Hopefully my
sanity will start returning to me then because although
having no screen has benefits, having my Ph.D. will
undoubtedly have more.

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About Carolyn Elizabeth, Ph.D.
===============================
Carolyn just received her Ph.D. in clinical
psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
She thoroughly enjoyed her dissertation defense party.
Carolyn can be reached via e-mail at
Carolyn@psych.colorado.edu

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Words of Wisdom from New Ph.D.'s.
=======================================
*The dissertation process is a huge hoop to jump
through. It's a learning experience for all of us
and an agonizing one no matter who you are. You're
not stupid...you're just trying to slog through a
task you've never done before. Everyone has trouble
with it. Relax as much as you can and take it
in small steps. It will all be magically clear
when you're finished! Weird but true.

*My advice to other individuals pursuing this
process is that you must stay focused, support your
beliefs, and have a tremendous cheering section behind
you. It helps for the times when you are so exhausted
from studying, writing papers, presenting research,
that you just want to give it all up.

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Your Own Coach
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If you are considering whether to get your own coach
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BEN DEAN, Publisher, ABDSG
===============================
Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of
Texas at Austin. He is the founder of MentorCoach
(www.MentorCoach.com), a virtual university
training accomplished mental health professionals
to become extraordinary coaches. With
Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Ben is also the founder of
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hamster,and Rubin, their cocker spaniel.
==================================
RACHNA D. JAIN, Editor, ABDSG
==================================
I'm a dissertation coach and licensed psychologist
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I'm excited to be working with you to meet your academic
goals. You can do it!
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