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I am currently writing a research proposal for a PhD in a very interesting field. While working on the proposal I noticed that I run through the following (emotional) stages:

  1. Enthusiasm: I think about the topic and am excited to work on it. I start thinking about what I want to do and how I am going to do it.
  2. Optimism: I do the necessary initial research on the topic and am still excited. My interest in the topic grows and I am very optimistic.
  3. Self-doubt: I start writing and suddenly I am confronted with questions I can’t answer. I start doubting myself and think about all the things I don’t know. I start thinking that I am incapable of finishing this and that I really have no idea about the topic and what is expected of me. I try pushing through but am really hitting a brick-wall.
  4. Desperation: I can’t get any work done because I don’t think I can do the work. I get depressed and angry and make no progress.
  5. Mild optimism: I somehow get myself to work on the project again. I start with the easy parts and just push through until it is all done. I start thinking that it wasn’t all that bad and that the desperation really wasn’t necessary. While I am mostly satisfied with the outcome I still doubt that the result is the best I could do.

Looking back at my time as a student1 I realized that I run through those stages every time I have to do scientific writing. While I am never quite satisfied with the result, I have always received great feedback and excellent grades from my professors.

Now that I am thinking about doing a PhD I am starting to doubt if I am the right candidate for this because of my difficult writing process. While I know a few people who run trough similar stages I also know people that are enthusiastic throughout the entire process and love writing scientific papers. Maybe those people are more suited for PhD programmes than I am.

So my question is: Are self-doubt and desperation a normal part of scientific writing?

Related questions: Can I still be a good researcher if I constantly doubt the quality of my work? Is there something that I can do to mitigate this part of the process?

1Not sure if this is relevant but I have written several smaller papers in class, two bachelor’s theses and two master’s theses (in different academic fields).

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    Based on anecdotal but repeated experience (own experience and that of almost everyone I've talked to): Yes, it's typical, except the whole cycle starts over after point 5. At the end of many cycles, you have a draft of your PhD thesis. Realizing that writing-thinking is actually an iterative process and not a sudden outpour of finished ideas is actually really helpful to ease self-doubt and become a more relaxed and efficient writer (and perhaps even thinker).
    – henning no longer feeds AI
    Commented Sep 11, 2017 at 8:02

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I start with you related questions:

Can I still be a good researcher if I constantly doubt the quality of my work?

You got it the wrong way. The real question is: Can I be a good researcher without constant doubt of the quality of my work? And the answer to this question is no. You should always question your work and and strive to make it better. Doubt is an integral part of research. But beware, that you should come out of this with "yes, my work matters/is of good quality/is relevant…" often enough either by your own conclusion of by feedback of others.

Is there something that I can do to mitigate this part of the process?

Not sure, but you do not really need to. Please read this thread to see how to deal with insecurity and doubt as a researcher. You'll also find that the answer to

Are self-doubt and desperation a normal part of scientific writing?

is most likely to be yes for most people regarding doubt and partly regarding desperation (assuming that "scientific writing" and "doing research" are quite similar in this respect). As Nate Eldredge notes, you should critically ask yourself if your self-doubt is close to be "pathological". I am not qualified in any way to give advice on how to diagnose yourself but you may want to read about the impostor syndrome.

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    I think one needs to distinguish two kinds of doubt: the rational skepticism and critical examination of the work itself, and the emotional anxiety over one's own inherent capabilities. The first kind is helpful, but it seems like most people would be happier, and no less successful, if they could avoid the second.
    – Nate Eldredge
    Commented Sep 11, 2017 at 17:21
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I also know people that are enthusiastic throughout the entire process and love writing scientific papers.

That's great! I'm not sure I know anyone who is enthusiastic through the entire process. Having moments of doubt is pretty common, if not universal. The best thing you can do is accept that you're going to have moments of desperation (stage 4), while realizing that you have control over the way out.

People often think that they can't work until they feel better. As you describe it, you feel mildly optimistic and then you somehow get to work again. But often times it's the reverse. You get to work, and making progress makes you feel more confident and optimistic. So sit down, set yourself to finishing a small chunk of work, thank stage 4 for its constructive criticism, and show it the door.

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