Seeking for advices on future choices (emotional support)

Dear Postdoc fellas;

I am seeking help from with some experience than mine and see how to possible calm my soul.
To give some background, I am approaching the end of my PhD (6 months left), I will try to defend early next year and I am confused and (without shame) scared about my future.
My biggest fear is losing this first tiny piece of peace and happiness I was able to get after many years.
Long story short, my first 2 years of PhD were (emotionally speaking) a "meat grinder". I had no friends, long distance relationship with toxic traits, fullfilled with nostalgia, constant self-pitiness and often I felt very close the idea of hurting myself to somehow focus on another type of pain. I had the most miserable years of my life.
Fortunatly, since 1 year and half things got increadibly better. I moved out, found a comunity of friends, broke up (although extremely painfull) I finally feel centered and I don't look at other people houses dreaming of that cozy, familar feeling of home.
My biggest, an reasonable, fear is to lose all of this and starting all over again once finished with PhD. To give context, I am at the ETH Zürich and I know that finding jobs/ post doc years would be extremely though. I am not one of this top student. I am just a curious passionated dude who loves studying.

Now, my request: how did you cope with the idea of moving again and again from faculty to faculty. How did you manage with friends, loves, beloved ones and most of all yourself?. Has any of you had similar experience who feel like to give some advices?

thanks and all best :)

Posted Jul 17, 2025, 8:48 AM UTC

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