Is it sensible to plan a career in academia if I’ve got schizophrenia (and chronic fatigue syndrome)?
My life plan at the moment is to go into the economics field as an academic and also create a constultancy business as a side. Is this too much to expect or want of myself?
I don’t hear voices. I do experience some paranoia. I have a bit of chaotic thinking or incorehence and I have bad motivation I am tackling with modafinil and aripiprazole. I’m uk based hence call abilify aripiprazole.
I have grand plans (and it’s not just the grandeur of sz speaking or thinking into me) for the most part I’ve recovered some mental capacity.
Ofc plenty of steps still to take.
If none of the above is possible, how many of yourselves or do you know of sz persons who can hold a full time job?
That’s all I really care about. Being able to fend for myself. Without state reliance
I’m a economics major but didn’t quite have the long term goals. I was able to work full time the first two years after graduating and only part time after the initial years. How you’ll do really depends on how you manage/ handle stress. If it doesn’t effect you much, I don’t see why you can’t make those goals a reality. Academia isn’t necessarily a demanding or stress inducing field (compared with private corporations) so you have that in your favor.
I worked as a broker and account executive after graduating. Working f/t was really tough on me and eventually I had to concede that p/t was more suitable.
Thank you. This is more or less what I am expecting. That after I get passed the phd stage ; of my work is appealing enough I should be able to request part time hours —- I’ll probably never make it to a professorship but as long as I get to do something that seems interesting and helps me maintain independence. I’m happy with that, after all. Not everything works out— a dream Of hope is fine with me lol.
Most people, whether they have schizophrenia or not, don’t pursue a career in academia. However if you have the ability and desire to do so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
Keeping your symptoms under control will be of utmost importance.
It’s a lofty aim, but with the requisite ability, and a good mindset re treatment etc,it’s achievable.
I wish you the best in making your desire come true.
Bear in mind academia may be a good career path, but the actual investment required for it from being a student for years may not stack up
My ex was doing an Art History phd and she has been at university for over ten years now and she is still living at home and working a minimum wage job and she basically 30 now
Thank you. That gives me inspiration and motivation. I do require meds and I don’t see myself coming off of medication even if I am years free of the symptoms because I know it’s a nightmare if you do relapse.
I just hope god or whatever nature is. Accommodates to this desire; the end goal is philanthropic — so it’s not even a selfish desire
It makes sense. But I don’t think a social science/science will be funded for ten years if it’s not showing results immediately. Whereas with the arts; it’s a different story.
I’m okay to put up with the phd if I can hack undergraduate. I’ve always been book-able (as I’m able to deal with books). It should work to my advantage. I just need the chronic tiredness to be dealt with. If I do a part time course it might sort the issue out.
I just have to find an institution willing to invest in me.
My real barrier is using my current part time job to make enough savings for the masters investment.
Be aware that opportunities for funded PhD’s are scarce. And landing a paid academic position beyond that is even harder. A huge amount of PhD students do not manage to continue in academia because of scarcity of suitable jobs.
I passed university with a master degree in litterature and history of religion ( anthropology) while i was diagnosed SZA.
It is certainly possible to do that, especially since your symptoms are pretty benign.
That said, i don’t work as an academic anymore, but in a much more practical job. Academia was an environment to hard for me, but give at a try. If you succeed that’s fine, and if you dont, you have an experience and knowledge you can use for another purpose.
Yes, phd jobs are scarce and companies don’t want to pay phd students more for the same work that can be done by non-phd students. My brother was in that boat, he had the grades to do a PhD but ended up not because now its easier to find a job. What you can probably do with a phd is teaching but that doesn’t pay much, less than non-phd students in non-teaching jobs.