chocchick Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I've been debating posting this thread for a while. I felt really overwhelmed last week and just felt like I couldn't cope with my PhD and things at home last week. I've not done any work on my PhD for 1-2 weeks. I've ended up giving a chicken a hot-tub spa experience today (see clinic) and looked at forums. I'm supposed to do my postponed lab talk tomorrow and just want to avoid again. I should talk to someone today if I'm going to do that but have been putting it off for about a week. It's been going downhill for a while, and my supervisor doesn't take much interest in my project and I want a new career and feel I'm struggling , but have to finish as I'm so far in (4th year of 3 years of funding). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Sarah you have to keep going you can't quit now I khnow it isn't easy but you must speak to someone Have you got a councelling service available at work or someon who has the authority to kick your supervisor into helping more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Oh Chox, after all that hard work, you HAVE to keep going and finish it off, then you can think about what you want to do and about your career. Let's have a chat on Saturday, but get that lab talk over and done with - you'll feel better for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have decided to take a year break from my studies to see if a break will give me any fresh motivation! I found the pressure of writing paper after paper was getting me down. have you thought about maybe taking a break, finding a job in the right area, getting some real world experiance in it.. then going back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 4, 2006 Author Share Posted December 4, 2006 Sarah you have to keep going you can't quit now I khnow it isn't easy but you must speak to someone Have you got a counselling service available at work or someon who has the authority to kick your supervisor into helping more I'm already seeing a counsellor. I don't trust my department to keep it confidential, but I will try our graduate centre and try and make myself get in touch again with a nice lecturer in my group. My supervisor is a professor and has a lot of power in the department. Problem is I'm suffering from a lot of general/social anxiety making it hard to discuss it/do anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 It sounds like you need to take a break for a short while maybe a month or something then decide what you want to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 4, 2006 Author Share Posted December 4, 2006 I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have decided to take a year break from my studies to see if a break will give me any fresh motivation! I found the pressure of writing paper after paper was getting me down. have you thought about maybe taking a break, finding a job in the right area, getting some real world experiance in it.. then going back? I've not got even a mention on a single paper The problem is not knowing what job. It is an option, but there is the worry I won't go back. There is one guy in our lab in his 6th year (normal 3-4 year PhD) who hasn't finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 chocco.. it might help you to realise you really are not alone. both Simon and I feel exactly the same! out supervisor went on sabtical just as we started out PhDs.... then the lead RA left.. then in our 4th year the supervisor went on another sabatical! and our funding ran out after the 3rd year! its not easy to stay motivated! ((hugs)) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 that was my problem... I was doing information security... I would write up some research for a paper.. send it off to my advisor, and not hear back for 2-3 months.. in which time someone else had come to the same conclusions, and my paper was not publishable. *sigh* out of 4.5 years of work, I only managed to push out 1 published paper, and that was to the IEE. although I had written over 30! its very demoralising.. espechially when other students with different supervisors were publishing every month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Big hugs Choccy, see if you can get to speak to someone. I don't have a PhD, but understand how hard it must be to stay motivated. Is OH being supportive? You need a brisk walk to get your positive vibes going, a bar of chocolate and a big hug (can the hug wait until Saturday?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit glum. I could call round and try to cheer you up if you like. (Would have to be weekday, I'm afraid as all the w/e's til Jan are chockablock.) I'd ask you round here but it is like the Wreck of the Hesperus at the moment,and virtually innaccessable because of the roadworkings. I know... lets go to Meadowhall!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 4, 2006 Author Share Posted December 4, 2006 Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit glum. I could call round and try to cheer you up if you like. (Would have to be weekday, I'm afraid as all the w/e's til Jan are chockablock.) I'd ask you round here but it is like the Wreck of the Hesperus at the moment,and virtually innaccessable because of the roadworkings. I know... lets go to Meadowhall!!! Right I'm back to my PhD Will PM you. Actually the lecturer I left a message with phoned me and I went in for a 2 1/2 hour meeting going through everything I knew was going include in the thesis and feel better. She told me her 3rd year was really jammy and she got 4 papers but still took her a year to write up. Saw a postdoc about my talk tomorrow so hopefully that will be OK *fingers crossed* Still need to finish it though Must get off forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kazaddress Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 That sounds better Choccy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 That sounds much more positive, Sarah. You've done the right thing by speaking to your lecturer. Hope it all goes well tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted December 4, 2006 Share Posted December 4, 2006 Hi Choccy, Hopefully by the time you read this you will have done the talk, and be another step further towards your goal. I'm glad you posted, it's so easy to lose motivation at that stage, all in the context of ups & down in life in general, and we are all here supporting you. Consider yourself hugged Choccy, here are lots of smiles for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Thinking of you today Choccy. Best wishes and big hugs. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Best of luck today Choccy Hope all goes well and you find it easier than you thought Don't give up, you will get through it and you will feel so pleased with yourself that you perservered Get back on the forum when you need a bit of encouragement or a bit of a rant, there is always someone out there that will offer a 'virtual' shoulder to cry on or the odd word of support Take care and look after yourself, see you on saturday at Jimmys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 5, 2006 Author Share Posted December 5, 2006 Your replies are all so sweet 15 mins to go should be OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 You will be okay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Hope it goes well CC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 Good luck Choccy........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 5, 2006 Author Share Posted December 5, 2006 It's over but my adviser (in the research group) insisted on trying out viva questions on me and tried to convince me I don't know what I need to. The female lecturer I talked to yesterday and postdoc tried to persuade him it was a confidence problem, I'd only just started writing and I explained it fine to them yesterday. This sort of agressive questioning ruins my confidence Suppose I'll email lecturer again for moral support Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 5, 2006 Share Posted December 5, 2006 What a horrid person, in light of what your other lecturer said he could've given you a break. See you Saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted December 5, 2006 Author Share Posted December 5, 2006 The nice lecturer phoned to see if I was alright. Apparently I had some support in the lab and she knew from yesterday my confidence was a bit fragile and it wasn't what I needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
