Hey 4matt! Sounds like you're having a rough time at the moment. I can sympathise with your issues with your supervisor- sometimes it can feel like you're never doing enough, or doing the right thing, I know how that feels. It sounds like your main priority at the moment though should be your health- you won't be able to keep up with your work and it's not surprising that everything feels so hard when you're starting to have problems with anxiety and depression again. I think you should try to sort that out before you worry about your PhD- go see your GP, student counsellor, whatever might help. Hopefully you will have some ideas about what will help since you've had similar issues before. And if needs be- don't feel bad about taking time off to get your head back in the right place. I was feeling really awful a few weeks ago and after an argument with my sup I just couldn't take any more- I went home, got into my car, and drove to stay with mum and dad for the week. I had to cancel appointments and meetings but being away from work and having a week to chill out really helped. Catch up with your mates back at home and just ignore your PhD for a week, or longer if necessary. I don't know how good your relationship with your supervisor is but perhaps she needs to know that things aren't too good with you right now and she might need to take the pressure off a bit. Whatever you decide to do- make sure you're looking after number 1. Best wishes, KB

Hey Spiderpig! Sounds like you need a proper chat with your supervisor to sort out what your research questions are and what you are aiming to do. Although it's quite normal for people to sepnd most of first year working this bit out, by now you should have an idea of where you're heading so you can structure your work and have a clear focus. Perhaps you could tell your sup that you are trying to draw up a timeplan but are not aure what to include in it, and thus need a discussion about exactly what you need to be doing. A couple of PhD students on the same team as me were part of a bigger project, but both have taken their fourth year to complete the write-up. One had done all the practical work on time (i.e. within 3 years), so that wasn't a problem- she was allowed to write up in her own time. The other girl had experienced some major problems and even at the end of 4th year hasn't got all the data she should have and was subsequently dropped from the bigger project, although if she can get extra time she is allowed to continue with her PhD- it just won't be part of the bigger project any more. So I think as long as the practical work is done in three years, you'll be okay and you should be allowed a 4th year to write up. Why not double check with your sup exactly what the position is? And finally- take care of yourself! You sound pretty fed up so maybe you need a short break or a change of scene or something- sometimes it's hard, but don't sacrifice the whole of your personal life for your PhD, it's not worth it! Best wishes- I hope you get it sorted! KB

Hey Ecas, I can really relate to what you're saying here- I'm final year and got engaged to my boyf about a month ago, although we've only actually been seeing each other for about 8 months. So we started off whilst I was in the middle of second year and was very busy, and at the time he was unemployed and wanted to spend every minute of his life with me. Now, he's just about to start a 9-5 job. It's tough, but I think you have to lay down some sort of guidelines and stick to them. Like you, I'm off to the gym every evening too, so it does make things tricky. But I sort of lay down the rules right away- I just said my PhD is extremely important to me and I'm at a busy time in my life, I need to exercise every day or else I feel rubbish (I'm bipolar), but around that I will do everything I can and bend over backwards to make sure we see each other and that we have enough time for it to work. We did go through phases where he would ask if I could meet him on a weekday for the day, and I had to explain that even though I'm a student, it's really much more like a job and that I needed to work Mon-Fri, and I had to stick to that even though I felt really mean. So now we usually see each other once or twice in the week and spend a full day together at the weekend. It's not really a lot, and I know he wishes we were together more, but he knows that I do everything I can to make time for us to do things together, and we will be moving in together before too long anyway. I also make sure that when we have a day together, we do something special and make sure it's a great day- we don't just slob around watching dvds all day or whatever. So if you like this guy, then I think you can make it work- but be clear (and honest) about when you can see him, and obviously you need to take into account his preferences and needs as well. And make the time you have together special...have cool days out, try new things together, random things that neither of you have done before and that you can laugh about. As long as the time you have together is good quality time then I think you'll be fine!

I absolutely believe that you can have a family and a career. My sup is strongly against marriage and babies and completely opposed to anything but working towards your career, but there are some very good examples of successful female researchers in our department who have kids. So it is do-able, definitely. Hard, but do-able.

Goos luck with it! KB

Hey all, thanks for your helpful (and reassuring) comments! I think I do need to just not worry about doing all the hours I used to and just work as hard as I can for a shorter amount of time- it is so draining having to think so hard all the time lol! I guess I've only been writing up for a few weeks so I haven't quite worked out how it's best for me to do it yet.

Pink- I am actually relatively okay with the bipolar right now, but am still having a lot of other health problems which are definitely affecting my ability to work. I was slightly tempted to come off my meds and induce a manic episode so I'd get a load of work done v quickly (I hear of people actually doing that before exams etc) but I know how quickly things turn bad when I have a manic episode so I'm gonna be a good girl and stay on them!! But well done you managing to do all that writing while you're on a downer- don't know if I would manage that!

Dunni- you're so close! Am very jealous, hope you get to submit really soon and give your brain a little rest before the viva prep sets in!

Best wishes everyone, KB

Hey all! So I'm busy writing up at the moment- deadline end of September. It looks like I should finish roughly on time, although it's hard to tell for sure just yet. But whereas most people say they increase their hours and work more than ever during the write up phase, I seem to be going the other way round. In first and second year I was out a lot testing and at case meetings in the hospital etc, but I could easily work 12 hours per day and most of my weekend without a second thought. But now I'm just at my desk all day, I crawl along to 5pm and then really can't take it any more. I sometimes go in at weekends but usually end up having a snooze on my desk! I am getting stuff done but I just don't seem to have the same stamina- is it normal to have this happen when you're busy writing all the time? I just feel like my brain can only take so much per day now it's concentrating on writing all the time! Cheers all! KB

Hey Chuff, congrats- really pleased for you! Have a fab weekend, hope the elation soon sets in! KB

Pink, Well I reckon it's pretty damn brave! I think for me it's not a possiblity, as without meds I just can't get by in the real world. I have spent so much time in hospital and come so close to losing my life that I can't ever really see me managing for long without meds, even if I could get off them. I have tried a couple of times to come off them but both times ended up back in hospital, and at the moment I am not prepared to rock the boat whilst I write up my PhD. But I do admire your decision to try to learn to deal with it without- that takes guts! Bummer about your driving licence- I lost mine temporarily a few years ago cos the meds they put me on gave me seizures, and it was a pain in the bum losing my freedom like that. Luckily I have it back now, though I have to keep going through medical checks to make sure I'm fit to drive.

Sugar...now that's an interesting one, I'm a bit of a sugar junkie! And giving it up sounds like a nightmare, but I'm sure my health would benefit in many ways! I will give it some thought....

Best, KB

Hi Clarabelle! Sorry to hear about your situation but glad that you have taken the decision to work things through. I have had various personal issues throughout my academic career, and the only thing I can really say is- you just do what you can do! If you need to shift your workload around so that you only do the bits that you can concentrate on then do it. If the reading is not happening (and then you're giving yourself a hard time about it) then just leave that aspect for now and concentrate on something else- I always do the menial boring tasks when I'm struggling- so putting testing packs together, transcribing, and so on. Obviously that depends on what kind of work you have to do. Don't give yourself a hard time- you have had a shock and you are trying your best. I really hope things work out for you both. Best, KB

Hey Pink, I know what you mean about just needing a break from it, the whole thing can just be so tiresome. You're really brave trying to manage it without meds...after 9 hospitalisations and lots of ECT and dozens of meds, I can't imagine trying to manage it without. I only stopped being hospitalised a few years ago when we found a medication that worked, although sometimes I wonder whether they are doing more damage than good to be honest. I will have to come off my meds to have children ina few years and that thought terrifies me... have you ever been on meds? Anyway, you are right- just do your best and don't give yourself a hard time right now. If you are managing to get up each day and just do a little bit on your thesis then you're doing grand- don't put too much pressure on yourself. Best, KB

Hey Natassia! Sounds cool to me, though I've never heard of anyone doing anything like this before. But my own thoughts and feelings about my subject have been massively informed by watching my own two grandads fade away whilst suffering from dementia (well one is still alive, but only has months to live), and they are my inspiration for this project because it affected them so differently, in a way that really informs what I am studying. But of course, there is little opportunity to bring this experience into my thesis, so I think it would be really good to do what you are thinking of. I can't really offer much advice on how to go about it though, but what you have written seems reasonably clear to me! Best, KB

Hey Pineapple- good to hear, I hope I'm that calm and focussed a month before my viva! And at the end of the day, the PhD is a learning experience- it's fine to say you'd do things a bit differently if you had your time again (now I'm trying to analyse my data I'm thinking of a million things I'd do differently). The main thing is spotting them and learning from them! Sounds like your sups are really positive about your thesis too... hope you manage to stay calm over the next few weeks! Best, KB

Hi Emmaki, my research is mainly quant, but I have done one smallish qualitative study. I have 'validated' the responses by going back to some of the original participants to see whether I have interpreted their views correctly and also by showing the analysis to a couple of other people who are very experienced in working with my client group to see if the analysis resonates with their experiences of people with dementia. I have just had the reviewers' comments back on this paper and they were complimentary about this type of validation- however, a colleague of mine also went back to the original participants in one of her studies and the reviewers for her paper ripped that aspect of the 'validation' apart. So it is pretty controversial regarding what is accepted as a suitable 'validation' method and I wouldn't get too hung up over this, since so many people have different views. I have got a couple of papers in my office about this- I will send you the references tomorrow (if I don't- remind me!). Can you share your analysis with any suitably experienced 'experts' to see if it resonates with their views? I myself am not totally convinced that this 'validates' anything, but some people seem to like that method. Best, KB

Hey all! I am guilty of signing up to this thread and then never actually got going on it, but am going to start now! My deadline is September, and I have a lot of writing to do! I still have 3 empirical papers to write and my intro and discussion, but I am completely through with testing and entering data so am hoping to submit on time. My sup wants all 3 empirical papers submitted for publication by May (big gulp) so that hopefully by the time I get to my viva (prob December) they will have been accepted or at least we'll have feedback on them from reviewers that will be helpful. Am more than a little unconvinced they will be accepted by then because my last 4 papers have all been 'revise and re-submits', although 3 have now been accepted and should hear about the 4th one soon. So I will be glad just to have feedback on them! Am jealous of all those folk who are nearer the finish line than me!

Hope you're managing okay with the bipolar Pink, mine has been a little ill-behaved over the last few weeks, mainly due to changes in medication and that particular row with my sup and following mayhem on here! Not good for my head!

Best all, KB

Hey Kev, someone might correct me on this but I think you only get the one shot- the outcome of the viva will be pass, pass with minor corrections, pass with major corrections, revise and resubmit, then an outright fail or a decision to award an MPhil. Obviously if you get corrections (and hardly anyone passes without any!) then you're fine, a revise and resubmit is basically a second chance but I think you can only do this once (sometimes this requires a secons viva but not always), and then that's it. So best to try and get it right straight away! I might be wrong, but I think that's how it goes- if in doubt, check with your uni! Best, KB

Hey Bonzo- good to hear from you, it's been a while! Soz to hear the PhD is being such hard work, but glad you aren't getting yourself too down about it. I can't really answer your question unfortch- the only thing I would say is that I don't think I have ever been taught be someone who doesn't have a PhD or other doctorate (seminars aside- loads of PhDers run those as we all know!) so I would check out the opportunities for teaching without the PhD. I know there are lecturers in other subjects at other universities who haven't completed a PhD (a family friend for one!) so you might be alright- perhaps it just depends across unis and subject areas. Is the PhD pretty much unsalvageable or are you just too hacked off to carry on? I agree with the swimming swan thing- I have seen a few ugly sides to academia over the last few years. I think you just need to do a bit of your own research on how easy it is to progress with teaching without a PhD- maybe with the right alternative qualifications it's not too difficult. Keep in touch! KB