I haven't taken a holiday since I started my PhD 6 months ago. Feel bad if I'm on holiday...

Well, I'm pretty much on my own to figure out how things work. Perhaps due to my personality, I'm quite reluctant to talk to my supervisor or ask for help unless I couldn't solve the problem after trying all possible means.

Well, I haven't tried emailing my current PhD supervisor any of my feelings towards PhD. But, I did do so when I did my Master degree (with another supervisor).

I never phone my supervisor....but some of my colleagues do.

Possibly due to language barrier and cultural difference, I haven't had the chance (and the gut) to meet or chat to my supervisor alone. I got nothing to say with him. I'm a bit afraid to leave a bad impression of wasting his time...

What about others?

Even I have a facebook account, I don't usually check it and play with it. I still prefer online diary or blog.

I think it's more important to find a project which interests you, rather than thinking about the name of the institution. Of course it may sound great to get a PhD from OxBridge, but I don't think this's the critical factor.

Thanks a lot for the support! I remember my GP has asked me whether I'm shy or not. In fact, I couldn't really differentiate between shy and slightly autistic. I know I like to collect stuff....no matter how trivial they are. This is somewhat good in doing research because one main part in research is to collect data! (but I hate doing analysis...)

PhD = permanent head damage. I think this's somewhat correct.

Well, I don't seem like having the obvious symptoms for depression. In fact, people with Asperger's syndrome (one member of the autistic spectrum disorder) is more prone to depression....

I don't have any research budget. I spend half of my stipend on rent & bills. It's very expensive to live in London.

Thanks for all your replies. I've wasted so much time on thinking why I'm so different from others in terms of social life and hobbies.

I'm sick of myself being self-isolated all the time (although I do enjoy the freedom and quietness). People in my lab seem very comfortable to collaborate and talk, while I'm working pretty much on my own at an unaccetably slow pace. I even turn down a potential collaborator because I don't want to use extra effort to deal with another person.

I think people like myself will not survive in the academia, where collaboration is highly encouraged. Perhaps I just deem to fail? This could explain why my supervisor doesn't like me at all.

Apply for travel grants, or ask your supervisor to sponsor you.

Does anyone find making friends or short chatting difficult? I suspect myself is suffering from some aspect in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I'm now seeking medical advice. I just like to talk to myself (and read aloud when I'm reading literature), and consider social activities as a "training" or "experiment".

I'm still a bit reluctant to get formal diagnosis.....I'm afraid that I may be labeled as "disabled" and got kick out from my MPhil/PhD programme. I decide not to tell my supervisor or labmates until I get more information about my condition.

I think I shouldn't stay in academic if I'm some sort Autistic because I just don't know how to collaborate, or to speak for myself.

Does anyone face similar problems?

Hi Dory and others,

I've begun my PhD study for 4 months. I didn't get any data, nor learned anything exciting/interesting. I had the same feelings that "these are just temporary for PhD....just wait.....don't need to ask help, as this may look stupid". Though this may be true, I don't think this's an efficient way to deal with things, as I've been wasting LOTS of time trying to calm myself down and to stay 'non-unhappy'. Perhaps this's just my problem because I don't know how to communicate well and to speak for myself.
For example, the project I'm now working on is given by my supervisor. I'd like to do something else, but I have no courage to tell him (and I also lack self-confidence). PhD is hard, and sometimes I think I shouldn't have started it.

Why am I doing a PhD? I was thinking about this question over my Xmas break. PhD won't guranttee me a job, and I've no idea what my PhD project (or more precisely, thesis title) will be. I guess this is "normal" for most of the PhD students. Just try to enjoy every single day!

Nice to meet you all, neuroscientists!
Where are you doing your PhD?
I'm in London.

I have an opposite type of supervisor as Ratty has. I also just begin my PhD for 3 months. My supervisor simply lets me do whatever I want, even though I don't really have any ideas at all. He won't ask me for results . Once he asked me,'How're the experiments?' I replied,'err....sometimes good, sometimes bad.' We didn't have much conversations, but instead he would redirect me to other post-docs for help.
I think finding a "perfect-match" supervisor is hard, a better way is to get used to the style of your supervisor, and to defend for your own rights.