Ah I see. Starbucks and Pret sell them too. Very nice they are as well, if not a little messy, especially in those of a cack-handed disposition (ie me).

IMO, the argument that recording a viva belies a lack of trust in the examiner is like saying that keeping a receipt makes it seem like you think the shopkeeper is a fraudster. The examiner is (I presume) paid for the viva, and should have no complaints about it. Also, woulnd't it be nice to keep as a memento? I know I keep all my undergrad exam papers. Or perhaps that's because I'm sad...

what's a stroopwaffel? I speak German so I often understand some Dutch, but what's a stroop?

While I am not currently doing a PhD, I'd have thought that any supervisor worth his/her salt would intervene and prevent the viva going ahead if you were going to fail. After all, it's not going to be something that is failed on the basis of one silly mistake. Having said that, if there's a fail option, someone must have taken it...

cont...
Anyway, I'd suggest asking for help, but only if there's someone you feel you can trust, and feel able to talk to. If not, maybe try to speak to one of the above people, or even someone like a student services worker who'll have some info about what can be done when postgrad students have these problems. It's a shame that you feel like this, but you've already done so much more than a lot of people could in your situtation - so you should feel proud of yourself.

Second, if you feel like you can't do something, then perhaps you should give yourself a rest and not do it. An analogy I have is that someone with a broken leg woulnd't be expected to go for a run, so why should someone with depression and anxiety be expected to function normally? The thing about survival of fittest is something I've found in scientific departments too, but Id hazard an educated guess that what you're experiencing is more common in these environments that the average, and that the problem is a denial culture, where everyone just pretends they're ok, and people suffer, which is sad.

Hey CC. I don't really know much about the details of what you say, but I have a rough idea about how you're feeling - I was meant to start a PhD this September, but withdrew at the last minute due to long term depression and anxiety.

So, without knowing too much about academia itself, unfortunately, I'll try to offer a bit of advice... First, I guess some of the help you're getting is in the form of a GP/counsellor/maybe a psychologist or psychiatrist. Could you ask them what they think you should do? Anyone in these fields (especially medical-related) who's worth their salt would be prepared to maybe write a completely confidential letter to someone in your department so that this can be taken into account. Having said that, I find it pretty disgraceful that details of your conversation were spread about last time, so I can understand your reluctance to do this.

On the topic of chocolate products, don't the Dutch have those nice little chocolate sprinkles which you can put on toast?

I don't know which department you;re applying to, but I applied to Bristol last year, and stated that I was also applying for a PhD at Sheffield and possibly London. I got offered a place (albeit one I turned down) but I guess it did't cause me any problems. I guess if you put nothihng then they might think you're committed to them, but then putting others shows that you're willing to look at a variety of areas, which could also be an advantage. Works both ways.

Hey, thanks for that Nimrod. Yeah, I'm certainly not going to say about withdrawing, or my reasons for doing so. If I was pressed then I guess I'd just be honest about it, but I doubt it'll come to that.

So now it's time to look for a new PhD project. I got two offers last year, and accepted one, but had a major illness thingy over the summer, and by the time I was about to start, I nearly had a breakdown. So I had to withdraw and, after considering all the options, I think a Phd is still the best option, although I do wonder sometimes, given all the people on here who seem to be getting down about theirs.

Has anyone else been in this position - having to withdraw, and then wondering whether to reapply for another? And how did it work out?

Hmm, do you have to have a bushy beard too? And a black T-shirt with some brewery's slogan on it?

If it's frequent, then maybe it's your diete, stress levels, or some other aspect of lifestyle. Peptobismol, Gaviscon, or similar thick indigestion liquid should help. Rennies or similar tablets can neutralise some acid, but don't really stop overproduction of acid. If it's causing you a lot of problems, try something with ranitidine in it (I forget the names, but they look like little tablets). Failing that, go to the Dr, and he/she's prob give you Omeprazole or Lansoprazole which are pretty superb drugs.

Spatula, oxymoron, paradox, myriad, flange (sorry)

Oh, and Fifi_fole, you seem to have very good taste in beer indeed. I prefer Grozet to Fraoch myself, but any beer by Harviestoun is worth a try in my book.