Yes Yick, just try and relax and remember its perfectly natural so don't beat yourself up. These sort of issues come up on here time and time again. I think many of us suffer from phd anxieties!

Thanks for your comments guys. Always helps to know I am not alone in this respect. I will have to try and battle my perfectionist tendencies if I am to remain in academia for the long-term I guess.

Tinned 'chick pea asda dahl' for lunch, mircowaved - I really must go to tesco.

Sorry to hear that coastman - you're worrying me slightly too as at the mo I feel I only have my presentation to do until I get back!? :-/ I'm doing a session talk on the geographies of cyberspace: social-networking websites in the lives of gay Muslims.

I believe a student from my department had her PhD rejected and then decided to submit an MPhil after 3-4 years. I don't think it is common though.

My supervisors really lovely but I understand where you are coming from. I have days where I just want to hide and/or avoid them...usually when I'm really stressed, struggling and don't want to be asked "so hows the work going?" I respect my supervisors (and their work which inspired me to continue my research) a lot and I think this makes me feel insecure around them sometimes, almost as if I 'owe them one'. For me this is only natural and I don't think you can force-feed relationships. I try to stay clear of personal chatter also because I don't really want to be thinking of my supervisors as 'friends' though I realise this may be a better approach for some people. Try not to worry about it too much. I think its just one of those things - when you think about it, it makes it more awkward in a way!!

Everyone is on holiday at the moment! My place is like a ghost town! Otto is definitely right...you are so so close - just be an easter bunny for a day or two and enjoy the weather (try and pick yourself up) and then try and push on. You're nearly there!!

'ello! Just wondering whether anyone else on here is going to the AAG in San Francisco in the next couple of weeks and if so, are you fully prepared to present!? Anyone else going to any far-flung conferences soon?

Hi wornout. I agree with these guys. It seems like you have a bit of a bad egg here. You definitely need to check out the procedures to log a complaint/grievance (is there a research student handbook at your uni?) - this doesn't sound right at all. Have you not got more than one supervisor? Or is there another person in the Dept. you feel you could talk to? If your supervisor is making you unhappy, don't blame yourself. Get rid!!!

Hi guys.

Is there anybody at all out there like me that stresses constantly about pretty much everything?! I seem to spend hours preparing for demonstrating/teaching, writing-up, reading and I'm starting to wonder whether I'm going to 'melt down' if I keep on going like this :-/ I think I’m just a bit of a worrier and like things to be ‘perfect’ but this is starting to take its toll and I’m thinking this (or my) kind of personality may not go well with a PhD.

It’s all came to a bit of a head for me this evening really. I managed to get my MPhil-PhD transfer report submitted a week ago today (after 3 sets of changes!) and was meant to be doing a hour-long research seminar tomorrow but had to cancel it last minute tonight – I just couldn’t see any way of getting it done to a standard that would make me feel confident getting up and speaking for an hour.

Has anybody else had similar experiences? Am I just lacking confidence? And what the heckity weck do I do to sort this out?!±

Someone please make me feel better!! Meh!
G.

I've just completed my transfer report. My Dept. wanted a 10K report (lit. review, methods, evidence of empirical research to date and plan of future work). 3 chapters worth??! Eeek!

Thanks Kitten.

I remember handing out some feedback forms at the end of the last academic year so I guess this may be the kind of assessment that takes place in your department. I'm gonna have to have an ask around for my own peace of mind.

Has anyone ever monitored any of your classes?
Thanks again.

I say yes too, and goodluck if you go for it.

Hello poodles!

I was just wondering if those of you who are demonstrating/teaching and/or lecturing ever get any kind of feedback from supervisors?

Its just I have been taking seminars for a year and have even more as I'm going into my second year (including lectures), yet I've never been watched in-class or had any training on how to teach - well I had a one-day thing but this was an optional course I found on the Internet.

I am starting to freak out. If I get a grumpy, tired or confused looks off one of my students I think to myself "I must be the worst teacher in the world" and to be honest, I have had nothing said, or down on paper that suggests otherwise.

Any thoughts? :-/

I always end up with English (U.S.) again too. Ick!