I defended this morning and passed with “minor revisions.” I should feel elated, but I honestly am just numb and slightly depressed.
I think I’m getting sick, so maybe that’s it, but I don’t feel relieved. Maybe I will after I make all the necessary edits?
Posted Apr 16, 2018, 3:32 PM UTC
I felt the blues for a bit after defending. I think it was because it was my main goal and purpose for the months leading up to it, and was the culmination of five years of effort. It's only natural to feel a bit empty and depressed after something that you've devoted so much time to ends.
I made time to go do a lot of the things that I didn't have time for while I was preparing for my defense, and I tried to minimize the amount of work I did for a week after it. Maybe you could try to take some more time for yourself: work out, sleep more than you normally get to, engage in your hobbies, etc. I wouldn't be too worried about it unless you start to lose enjoyment of what you normally like to do and exhibit other signs of a greater problem.
Exhaustion is a very real thing. Do you have friends/peers to celebrate with?
I think it can also be really hard to be excited when you don't know what you're doing next- do you have something lined up to be excited about?