SummaryThis episode of the Young Immunologist podcast discusses mental health during a PhD journey. The guest, Julian, shares his personal experience with mental health issues during his PhD and the challenges he faced. He emphasizes the importance of having empathetic people around and finding support from others who have similar experiences. The episode also highlights the impact of academic pressure on mental health and the need for institutional support. The conversation concludes with three tips for dealing with stress and maintaining mental wellbeing. The conversation explores the topics of negative thinking, anxiety, overcoming mental health challenges, personal growth, self-acceptance, and seeking help and support.TakeawaysHaving empathetic people around and finding support from others who have similar experiences is crucial for mental wellbeing during a PhD journey.Academic pressure and the fear of failure can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.Seeking professional help and support from psychologists or therapists is important for managing mental health during a PhD.Being kind to oneself and acknowledging small successes is essential for maintaining mental wellbeing.The mindset and thinking process play a significant role in managing stress and maintaining mental health. Negative thinking can lead to anxiety and panic disorders.Challenging mental health issues is a process that takes time and effort.Facing and overcoming mental health challenges can lead to personal growth and self-acceptance.Seeking help and support from trusted individuals or professional resources is crucial in managing mental health.Chapters00:00Introduction02:18Julian's PhD Project03:55Mental Wellbeing during PhD07:14Imposter Syndrome and Mental Struggles in Academia10:15First Signs of Mental Health Issues17:14Academic Pressure and Mental Health19:00Seeking Help and Support23:19Substance Abuse and Mental Health29:00Impact of Environment and Supportive Network36:15PI's Support and Empathy39:04Three Tips for Dealing with Stress44:27Negative Thinking and Anxiety48:47Overcoming Mental Health Challenges50:59Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance51:26Seeking Help and SupportSupport the Show.The Podcast is hosted by Nóra Balzer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/n%C3%B3ra-balzer-253a767b/?originalSubdomain=dehttps://twitter.com/norabalzer1The podcast is supported by the German Association of Immunology (DGfI) - Young Immunologists (YI)https://dgfi.org/https://dgfi.org/young-immunologists/https://www.linkedin.com/company/dgfi-yi/https://twitter.com/YI_dgfiBecome a member today! --> https://dgfi.org/dgfi-en/dgfi-membership/?noredirect=en_UShttps://www.yefis.org/