rcd and bellaz - thanks for your supportive comments, I have had a quick look into the student counselling system at my uni and I think I will make an appointment to see them
With regards to changing supervisor, this is something I will have to give more thought. How easy is it to do this and how much office politics will get in the way? It would be great to hear from anyone who has successfully done this, although it seems quite a daunting thing to even bring up with my superviser in the first place!
Luckily I am only about 6 months in to the PhD, so quitting would not be wasting a huge amount of work (I've done hardly any over the past few months due to these feelings). However, I DO feel like I can do it but I just don't know 'what' it is that I can do, if that makes any sense!! I am also a very shy person, and I have worked myself up over having to do various presentations, and also receiving criticism - I think those are the parts I can't/won't cope with!

I have had overwhelming feelings of wanting to quit over the past few months.. the thought just won't leave me and I haven't had any positive feelings towards the PhD for a loooooooooong time. My relationship with my superviser is poor and I don't feel like I can talk to them, even about my work, let alone the fact I am struggling.
The thing is, I want to go into academia (yes, that sounds like a contradiction from all I've just said!!!) and teaching at HE level in particular. I guess quitting a PhD would ruin my chances of ever doing that. Any advice or experience on this?
Another option I am considering is just doing the MPhil - but not sure whether this sort of thing would be frowned upon.

I finally finished the piece I was doing... and afterwards, I feel like I can't be bothered to do anything. My brain is empty and distracted, and I feel that my work has nowhere to go. Can't really be bothered reading anymore. I hope I get at least a tiny ounce of positive feedback about it because I just need something to get me up and going again

At least I'm not alone here! My motivation is zero and I only have pringles to keep me awake... a nice warm cosy bed would be a much better option.

Oh, and natwest will only issue me a Maestro card not a Visa
I tried to join Halifax on a student account but they wouldn't let me because I was postgrad - Halifax are supposed to have really bad customer service too!

I have a student account with Barclays which I have had for a while now, and in general I don't get any problems with them. They keep upgrading my account without charging me the normal fee which is quite good! I also recently opened a student account with Natwest just to get the free student railcard and webcam although I must admit the interest free overdraft facilities have been a lifesaver too.
Best time to look into student accounts is over the summer when they do all the offers with freebies. Neither bank had problems with me being postgrad either.
However, that being said, I can't comment on what it's like opening accounts with these places for non-British citizens!:(

I drink tea like there's no tomorrow and I find that using a decent electric toothbrush with the special plastic bristles on got rid of all my horrible tea stains.
Still too scared to visit the dentist though, aside from the fact I can't actually afford a visit

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm now in the process of labelling my notepads I thought at first that they were a hinderance to my organisation because they just seemed to be filled with random stuff, but adding page numbers and dates etc. seems a sensible idea.
I originally tried working with all my notes etc. on the computer but I found that hard to keep on top of especially when trying to write things up.
Just as well the notepads turned out to be a good idea because I'm one of those really sad people who get excited over having to buy a new notebook there is no better excuse!

Just wondering how everyone here files their notes etc. - are they digital or in a literal filing cabinet? What categories do you file them under? etc. I am looking for the best way to start filing as I realise that I can't go on the way I am! Looking for any suggestions of something that works and isn't too space consuming because I don't really have much space!
Most of my notes are currently in notepads or on separate pieces of paper.

I have made loads of notes on books and articles that I now consider irrelevant or off-topic to the way I see this research going. Is it still worth using them to form a small part of the literature review or would that just be a tangent? I am wondering whether to just file them away incase they ever come in handy again (I don't see that happening right now though), or just get rid?

I don't know really... to make a sweeping generalisation here - they are probably undergrads and in my experience of undergrads I am programmed to expect retaliation to some degree

I am quite proud of myself... students chatting in the silent study area again and I go so annoyed in the end I told them shut up and they did (and they didn't do anything bad back - yet) hehe

Hi eddi :)
I can sympathise with everything you've written! I feel like the past 6 months have been totally wasted, in fact if I am brutally honest it's only in the past few weeks have I really got my head down and started working. Even now I still feel like I am not doing enough. My writing is appauling too! I am dreading next year when things will get even more serious.
You're right, there is no-one to talk to about it. None of my friends or family can sympathise, I don't think anyone can unless they are doing it! I have found that SO frustrating, all my feelings bottle up inside instead of being able to discuss it. At least there is this forum - I would have given up long ago if it weren't for being able to discuss stuff here.

I had theme park for the ps2 - extremely addictive!!
I've just ordered the new Phoenix Wright/Apollo Justice game from Hong Kong.. yeeeeeeeey! More excuses not to work.

Thanks for your suggestions sjo4 - that has given me another option to consider. I haven't yet suspended registration, so I could look into something like that, I guess quitting is just the easy option and something I would regret later whilst stuck at burger king for my £5 an hour . Yes, the 6 hours max. is because of my PhD registration (good thing too, otherwise I would get even less work done than I do now!!