Hey Sheryl! I can't really add that much to what the others have said but wanted to offer some support. I suffer with bipolar disorder (mainly the depression side of it) and I had to drop out of uni and re-start 3 times in my undergrad degree because I couldn't cope with the depression and I spent a long time in hospital because of it. So I know how awful it is. The thing is, after a 7-year long battle with it and trying out different meds and having ECT many times I am pretty much fine now. You will come out of the other side of it, no matter how unlikely it fees now. But you can't do your PhD in that state- you need to be kind to yourself and get better. The things that helped me were the right medication and also the student counselling service. I have been going there weekly or twice-weekly for 7 years now and they have been fantastic. I think all unis have such a system now so would it be possible to go along to see them? It can be hard to pluck up the courage but I can't tell you in words how much they helped me- they probably saved my life. Meanwhile, you need to stop giving yourself a hard time about your PhD and take a break- I know it's hard when you're so down to try to think positively about anything, but once you get your health back you will. If it really isn't possible to take a break can you perhaps just work a few hours per day and then do something enjoyable or get some exercise or something- exercise is always good :) You will finish your PhD, but you need to have your health back first. If things don't pick up then go back to your doc- there are loads of anti-depressants you can try and the doc might be able to refer you to someone else more specialised as well. Have a big hug! Best, KB

Hey Dan! In an ideal world I would read more widely than I do! I work in the field of dementia and obviously read any new stuff that's related to my subject, but I also come across loads of interesting stuff that's dementia-related but not really connected to what I do. Usually when I come across an interesting paper like that I print it out and put it in my 'to read' box file! Some that are really intriguing do get read quite promptly, but of course I have a big backlog of papers that will probably never be read. I think it's important to try to though, just to keep on top of the field- you never know what your next project might be or whether you might take your research in a different direction. Best, KB

Hey Jenny!
I can sympathise with you on the depression side of things, because I've been there many times and I know how awful it is. I've been fairly okay since the start of my PhD (sometimes I think my PhD keeps me well!) but I had enormous problems before that which caused me to drop out of uni three times. I think you really need to deal with that first because there's no way you'll be able to work productively whilst you're feeling like that. Can you go to your GP or book an appointment with the uni counselling service? Or preferably both?! It's not easy asking for help but there is help out there, and perhaps once your health is sorted you can look at the PhD with fresh eyes and decide whether it's what you want to do. It sounds like it might be the right thing for you, if you can start to feel better about it. And perhaps now is not the right time for you to stoop smoking? I don't know (I've never smoked), but if I tried to give up chocolate when things were tough it would sure as hell make things much worse! Maybe don't be so hard on yourself about it and wait until things are better to try to stop, I don't think there's much point whilst you feel so awful. Really hope you can get some help. Best wishes, KB

Haha, well I'm glad I'm not completely on my own! Fortunately have been really busy the last few days so no time for work :) It will all be there waiting for me next month! KB

Hey! There's always a bit of a debate on here about whether it's important to move unis or stay put. On the plus side, moving gives you chance to work in a new setting with new people etc, which is good experience, but then you don't necessarily know what you are letting yourself in for! I have stayed put for my BSc, MSc, PhD and am applying for funding for a post-doc all at the same uni, simply because I am in the best place for my subject, working with the best people in my subject. It would be crazy for me to move when I'm so happy here and when I'm doing so well here- I can't imagine moving would be anything but a let-down (but then maybe that's rather narrow minded of me!). So it's a personal thing really- you need to think about how happy you are where you are and what you would gain from moving, and do the best thing for you. If you want to stay put then I wouldn't worry about it, as long as it's for the right reasons! Best, KB

Hey Bilbo! Thanks for your reply! I do actually do a lot of other things as well- I don't feel like I'm compromising on other things like reading non-academic books, seeing my friends and family, having fun, working out etc. It's just that when I stop doing those things I can't help myself from going back to my work! I try to fill my days up with things so I don't end up working but as soon as I get a little break I'm back to it! I think it's quite a hard time to just stop- sometimes the holiday happens at exactly the right time at a natural break. But this time it hasn't- I'm in the middle of a million and one things that I really want to get finished so it's hard to let go. I guess that's the kind of person I am to some extent but if I want to remain sane then maybe I do need to try the cold turkey thing :( Cheers, KB

Hope everyone had a fab Christmas! I'm hoping someone can identify with me. After 4 or 5 days of relaxation, drinking, and catching up with friends etc, I have finally given in and printed off some work to be doing. I was determined to do no work this holiday because I start writing up in the new year and I wanted a proper break, but I can't seem to tear myself away from doing something academic if I'm at a loss for other things to do. Is it just me? Can anyone else identify with this or has the PhD process turned me into some sort of recluse/hermit/academia-obsessed person? I still see my mates and have a life and all that but I can't seem to go for more than a week without a piece of academic life to feed upon. I am beginning to fear the worst- that I am turning into my supervisor. Help, anyone? Best, KB

Hey Sim! Apparently you can- I have reviewed a couple of papers for journals and my sup says I can put down on my CV that I have acted as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals. Don't know how much weight it holds but I think it's worth putting down- it shouldn't really affect anonymity because you don't have to identify the journal or the specific paper! Best, KB

Hey! Well i do clinical psychology and work with people with Alzheimer's, but can answer some of your more general questions! A PhD is very different from an undergrad (or masters) degree. Basically you do a 3 year research project and write a large thesis of up to 100k words (although this varies a bit from topic to topic and uni to uni). I treat my PhD like a full time job. All PhD students in my department have an office, and I tend to work about 9-6pm weekdays, and evenings and weekends if & when required. It can be hard work, especially if you want to get your work published and go to conferences and are committed to teaching (many PhD students have to do some teaching as part of their funding agreement), but it's possible to have a life as well! I still manage to see my boyfriend and my mates, and do my daily exercise and generally have fun! Funding can very, but if you get funding from a research council you're probably looking at around £14k per year (tax free). In my experience it's enough to get by on with a bit of planning (and a bit of help from one's parents in my case!), but luxuries are few and far between, and I live in one of the cheapest areas of the UK! Can't tell you much about the relevance of a PhD in your field, but in mine it's essential for a career in research. There will probably be someone here who can advise you better on that! Hope that helped a bit! KB

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Hey all! Anyone else had enough of this damn snow? Now I know it's nice and festive but I spent nearly two hours trying to dig my car out of its spot on the driveway at the bottom of a hill there's no way I can drive it up. I was unsuccessful, and my rescue team with it's 4X4 (i.e. dad) is coming to tow me out on Wednesday. Just to take the biscuit, I've got a bug that's going round and I puked in the snow whilst trying to dig my car out. It made a pretty pattern but that wasn't really much consolation. Sorry, too much detail. I do like snow in theory....but in reality it's pretty irritating! Best, KB

Hey Satchi! I sort of half am and half am not in the Christmas mood! I'm going to be in the office until Thursday, but it's really lonely here because there's been so much snow that the School has been closed down! And just to make things worse my car is trapped in front of my house at the bottom of two big hills that I can't get it up! Am hoping the snow and ice will have gone by Thursday or else I won't be able to get home for Christmas :(  Well, I could make my dad drive here with his nice big four wheel drive to pick me up in desperation I suppose! Oh well, on the bright side, this time last year I was in a wheelchair with a broken foot and nasty whiplash and back pain, so this year is looking rosier already! Am really looking forward to going home for 10 days though, I can't wait to spend time with my family and friends, it's ages since I've seen them properly! Hope you have a lovely Christmas! KB

Hey Canonly1. I'm in clinical psychology, doing both quantitative (mainly questionnaire data) and qualitative work (interview data). When you say 'presenting' the data, do you mean presenting it at a conference, or presenting it in writing, i.e. in your thesis? I don't think there is a set format for the order in which you need to present things (I had a similar conversation with my sup last week), but there might be an order that seems more logical to you, or there might be an order which makes it easier to present. With the interviews, it depends how you have analysed them. I used interpretative phenomenological analysis, which involves deriving themes from the data and then presenting each theme with supporting quotes. You can choose how many quotes you feel that you need to support the data, or to make as many interesting points as you want to. I'm not sure whether this answers your questions, but if you could be more specific we might be able to help more! Best, KB

Oooooops. Some of you might remember that doctor that I complained about the other day- the one that was really horrible to me. Well yesterday I put in a formal letter of complaint. This evening I was having my personal training session at the gym, and was having a bit of a rant to my personal trainer about him (although I didn't mention his name!). I must have been ranting for 5-10minutes then all of a sudden the guy on the next machine turned round and said 'I am listening you know'....It was HIM! The nasty doctor! I was sooooo embarrassed I didn't say anything....I'm mortified! Sorry- had to get it out of my system. My personal trainer on the other hand thought it was hilarious! Am still bright red....

KB :(

Hey cornflower! Am in a very similar situation to you- I really like both of my supervisors but there is a lot of nasty rivalry between them and a lot of sniping and bitching at each other. They're like little kids in some respects, although one is worse than the other! I just try not to get involved and when one sup makes a snipe at the other I just smile or ignore it. I've got quite an informal relationship with both, and get on really well with both, so it's a shame that they feel the need to slate each other. I think it actually stems from one of them being jealous of the other...I just watch and learn how not to behave if I ever get to that position!! I wouldn't worry too much, I think there is a lot of bitchiness in academia. I would just keep your nose clean, because you can be sure if you join in, it will catch up on you! Best, KB

Hey there! In one sense I can understand why you would like to do another PhD- I love my PhD and could spend my whole life doing them! But it doesn't make much sense career-wise. Seeing as though you've already got a PhD, would it not be possible to win funding to support your research as a post-doc or an RO? Best, KB