I finished my master's degree nearly a year ago. I really enjoyed it but found it quite intense, especially towards the end. I felt like I wanted a month or so off afterwards just to decompress and plan my next steps rather than rush into something. I have always planned to do a PhD so I felt like I just wanted a bit of breathing room from academia as I felt like I was close to burning out.
So I had a month or so off and begun to look for PhDs. However I really struggled with my mental health at this point. I started developing really bad anxiety and just lost all confidence in myself. I genuinely do not recognise the person I became. I was also dealing with some family issues that, now I am looking back, were relatively minor but at the time felt all-consuming due to my anxiety.
In the Spring I began looking for part-time jobs but the places I applied to started to close because of COVID-19. I then thought I was in the high-risk group so stopped applying for jobs and accepted I would have to stay home. It wasn't until later clarification that I found out my medical issue is not high risk.
That takes me up to now. I have started resuming working on my applications, I am in a much better place mentally and feel like my old self again. However I am feeling worried about how to explain this year on my applications and in interviews? Does anyone have any advice? I feel so guilty about it and I know it is a big reason why I have been putting off submitting some applications.
Thank you.