Academics - an exercise in futility?

Very possibly, yes. I'm not entirely sure, by the way, where this 'poster' originated from, but it seems to summarize my feeling concerning academia right now. No, I cannot claim credit.

Overwhelming helplessness is consuming my vision of myself and situation. Any way out has been camouflaged. I wish to return home and curl up in front of the fireplace and sleep for an indefinite period of time. Knowledge feels transient, thought is a labor of pain, depression may be setting in; this weary traveler is unsure of many things besides these, and is unable to distinguish dark from light at this point in time. The thought, 'I wish to be alone' circles over and again, but I know that this is not what I need, because I already feel alone enough to consider drowning my sorrows in endorphine overindulgence, otherwise known as running my body into the ground at the gym. Already this week, there have been several hours spent on an elliptical resistance machine. Vacation will be more than welcome, and is already being wished into existence. Sleep now, think of more later.