I was in an unfortunate accident last week which left me with a dislocated jaw and torn ligament (funny that THIS happened to the oral health girl). Anyways, as you can imagine, the pain is unbearable, and really there is no other treatment but pain management and 'father time'. I'm doing okay (I can put things into perspective with learning more about dental stuff - I now fully understand TMJ!)

My question is, has anyone else experienced an injury (or is currently experiencing a painful injury) while trying to complete a graduate degree? I'm not someone who will quit, but sometimes I find myself almost losing it. They say that stress and anxiety feeds pain...I'm not looking for sympathy, just tips on how to push through....Thanks.

I agree with rjb203 100%, and I decided that day to keep focusing on my work and continue to work hard because success can be measured in many ways. And as an update: That guy has been running around stressed and burning out for weeks because this project is actually making him work hard for once- on his own-on a project he cares nothing about. He really can’t handle the pressure or the stress and is starting to slip up from “being the best”.

I know it is very sick and evil us to notice and laugh in private, but we all find it hard not to feel justified.

I share a supervisor with another guy at my PhD level. When I first started, he would always drive everyone crazy with the constant self declarations that he was 'the best' in the department. BUT no one would actually see him doing any work. EVER. And anyone who ended up having to work with him, noticed that he never really put too much time or effort into the projects and would complete work that was never really at a PhD standard.

One day, this guy got rewarded with grant money for this project that he bragged “I don’t know anything about and don’t care”. I can relate with your feelings, but I decided to keep pushing myself harder. (i.e. I will win some or lose some).

That movie does sound pretty good. Have you read the book?

I guess not..it is a great movie...

I'm in a similar situation with my work lately. I can't use the "just back from holidays and still adjusting to the schedule" excuse any longer. I booked a defense date for my first comprehensive exam a month away (I am Canadian) and that still does NOT panic me to finish writing. I have no idea why I feel this way either. I think the best way to deal with this, is just to take that time off, and hopefully things (panic) will set in after a few days.

Movies are my favorite procrastination/relaxation. Anyone out there seen good movies lately? I just went to see 'Juno', and what a great movie. Anyone else see it? opinions?

hi Just Me! where are you from?

My complaint: My neck/upper back pains. I need to learn to sit up straight & properly at the computer, take more breaks from the computer and get more doctors notes for massage therapy....ahhhhh!

hi Wanderer, thanks for saying 'hi': what are you studying?

For me it is not always the writing stage that is so difficult in the publishing processes. It is getting the co-authors to read the paper to stamp their approval before sending the paper to the journal. Anyone else pretty much have to "pull teeth" (haha) to get their supervisors to read their work??? What is the average time you wait?

sometimes Universities have "graduate student housing" on campus specifically for international students and visiting professors that are already furnished and include heat/hydro & water. It is usually at a pretty good price. You could make contact with your coordinator and see if they have a set up like this...

yes, cookies...mmmmm...perhaps that was the most productive thing today. Double chocolate chip...Too bad you all are so far away, I will just have to eat them myself!

Well here is a story that I remembered. Perhaps not as funny as the rest.

I was in a meeting presenting a research paper as an undergraduate. It was my first presentation, and I was very nervous. I got to my method section, and described in great detail (about a 5 minute discussion) one of the scales used in my paper (how it was developed, psychometric properties, strengths and weaknesses).

Unknown to me at that moment, the guy who developed the scale was sitting in the front row.

It must be a trend today. I got up late, went into the office to check my email and chat with a friend over coffee for an hour. Decided to come home "to really get some work done"- meaning I ended up making lunch and baking cookies, then deciding today would be "the day" to learn how to start a fire from matches, paper and random wood in my fireplace. I succeeded at nothing today.