Depression, Doctorates and Self

Abstract

With the emerging and ongoing public discourse on mental illness, there is a need to understand the effects on students living with depression of undertaking the doctoral journey. Depression is a mood-altering illness that can and does have an effect on the doctoral student both temporally and cognitively. The cognitive effects include one’s beliefs in the ability to complete the research. This chapter is my autoethnographic experiences in undertaking a Doctor of Education degree whilst living with depression. The chapter explains my reflections on researching and writing a thesis while coping with depression. Strategies for other students who are affected by the sometimes cognitive and behavioural effects of depression on their doctoral aspirations are also presented.