When I first started doing research, I didn’t realize just how much work goes into each peer-reviewed article—or how long the whole process really takes.
I also didn’t appreciate how much life happens in the middle of it all, behind the scenes.
Two weeks ago, I shared a post about a study that actually started back in 2019, when Saida Heshmati, Ph.D. and I applied for a grant. We had big plans. 🌱
Then the pandemic hit.
Plans changed.
We adapted.
But we kept going.
Later, Jaymes Rombaoa led a team of research assistants from my Global Mental Health Lab to collect the data.
But, as life often does, it brought personal challenges and setbacks we hadn’t planned for.
We finally submitted a manuscript in early 2023.
Then we waited… a long time.
We revised and resubmitted.
We waited again.
Got rejected.
We felt discouraged.
Then regrouped.
Found another journal.
Submitted.
Waited again.
Revised — rerunning analyses, writing lengthy responses to reviewers.
Resubmitted.
Waited.
Finally… accepted! 🎉
Publishing often takes years — and not just because the work is hard.
Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the data collection, the analysis, the writing, or even the review process. What’s harder is tolerating the uncertainty — not knowing if any of it will pay off. Wondering if maybe we’re wasting our time.
Sometimes we fall short — not because we aren’t capable — but because somewhere along the way, there was an easier path to a lesser goal.
And sometimes, really hard things happen to us — things that pull us away from our goals, no matter how much we care or how hard we’re trying.
I want to be clear — I played a very small role in this paper. The heavy lifting — the writing, the analysis, the revisions — was led by Jaymes and Saida.
But what people don’t always see is that while the work is happening, life is happening too. Sometimes it’s loss and grief. Real tragedy.
And somehow, Jaymes, you stayed with it. 🤍
So if you’re in the middle of the waiting, revising, doubting… keep going.
Sometimes the long way is the only way, because the shortcuts don’t actually get us there.
If you’re navigating uncertainty — whether in research, work, or life — you’re not alone. At YFI, we help individuals facing challenges like anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, self-harm, suicide, and ADHD find clarity and support through evidence-based care. Reach out to us today to learn more about therapy and assessment options in your area, including Bel Air Estates, Beverly Glen, and Pacific Palisades.
