Hi all, am about to enter the last year of phd and I've been stuck in writing stage (as in having written anything concrete) for more than 9 months and I am quite despaired. So far I just managed to produce one small chapter (been postponing the main chapters ages).and I haven't been motivated enough to meet my deadlines. I have been advised and tried to divide the work in small chunks, it didn't work, got anxious about each bit I had to write. Tried "freewriting", didn't work, still rather go on facebook after 2 lines,same thing went for timer setup. I had a 6 month sick leave to get things right (went to therapy- different therapist actually, who where not completely effective, workshops, etc), and I didn't work for me. Also trying to think how lucky I am to count with the funding, family, friends and supervisors just got me feeling more guilty about not being able to write anyway, paired up with the fact that I they all think I am very clever. Sup finally said that I can't keep up like this (not delivering). Perhaps he is right, perhaps I just don't want to compromise anymore, perhaps I won't get over my fears and perhaps I don't want to. ... Anyone here with a similar situation? Anyone who was tried something different? Anyone left Phd for Mphil? How did that work out for you? Thanks for your time and answers. Appreciated.

hey marie, what kinda research are you doing? maybe i can help a bit. we could discuss on how you can move forward iA.

actually im one of them.. i quit my phd because of funding (funding programme stops in 2013) :( and am settling for an Mphil but my main problem is the funding body.. they want me to pay everything back just because I am not going to finish with a PhD. I am trying to argue with them that I will produce an MPhil thesis so the money was not wasted but have actually been used. I dont want to quit my studies and especially pay amounts of money :/

my suggestion is to see your priorities, but in my opinion dont quit especially when you have funded all your study!

Life is not particularly fair is it? Yes I know I should be grateful, but I think I should not also waste more their time and funding with something that may not happen.

Btw, to all of those of you reading but not commenting (which I realise is not the smartest to ask in a phd forum for people who are not doing a phd anymore and probably have moved on with their lives) There's this article I liked Called " Advising the Dissertation Student Who Won't Finish"

http://chronicle.com/article/Advising-the-Dissertation/124782/

Thats really not very fair ecos0002. They shouldnt be able to ask for the funding money back. What funding is it? Are you on a studentship with a research council?

Even for an MPhil you will still have to write a few thousands of words.

Can you please explain WHY exactly you cannot start writing?
Do you get in a panic mode?
You don't have enough data?

Sorry, I am only trying to understand.

Im just a student who applied for a scholarship fund from the EU and my country. My draw back is that I signed a contract that I would finish my studies with a PhD. but people change and priorities change (i got offered a job which i am very happy with as it relates to my work) and decided to go for an Mphil and do the PhD in a few yrs time.

Mariecherry84 you see it as wasting time however try and not let go of your previous years of gathering data. Its all work which can be used. Maybe you can talk with your supervisor to help you with the writing stage. I am aware that there are different types of supervisors aswell (nice and not so nice) but you should try, you've come so far its your last yr .. the last effort and you'r done ;)

[quote]Quote From DrJeckyll:

Can you please explain WHY exactly you cannot start writing?
Do you get in a panic mode?

It seems the master is not an option in my university (they recently changed regulations).
Dr. Jeckyll, yes I got terrified of writing and also in an intense state of denial, thus I spent hours and hours on facebook game, which made me feel guilty, which made me feel in denial, and playing more facebook and voila, months gone. I also lacked of lots of self-discipline (and worse I thought I lacked that ability and that could never be that way) I've read that the loss of joy for life and self confidence are common in -sometimes a product of -the phd... but there also should be highs at some point right?

Dear Mariecherry84

I could have written your post myself ! I have about 6 months of funding left, and I am often in a state of denial. I am sort of forcing myself to do a little bit every day, perhaps 2 hours, 3 hours. It's a love-hate relationship actually, with a lot of up and downs. It goes up one minute and down the next. I will be very glad when I submit it, that's for sure !

My advice for you is to just hang on and bite the bullet (easy for me to say actually...):p

Dear Mariecherry84

I could have written your post myself ! I have about 6 months of funding left, and I am often in a state of denial. I am sort of forcing myself to do a little bit every day, perhaps 2 hours, 3 hours. It's a love-hate relationship actually, with a lot of up and downs. It goes up one minute and down the next. I will be very glad when I submit it, that's for sure !

My advice for you is to just hang on and bite the bullet (easy for me to say actually...):p

Hey Charliebrown,

Just biting the bullet allright! My sups told me that either I work or I say bye by to phd with no masters or whatsoever (in my uni they can actually DO that now!! :o). With some special help, and the brand new academic kick in the but, I am managing to write (and have to submit a whole chapter in 6 days... :/) So maybe if you are in the same situation as me, probably people have cut you some - a lot- of slack, and have been understanding with you and let you postpone deadlines and drift in self-pity/self-denial. Do not wait for ultimatums, trust me, you'd suffer less that way. On the other hand, it might work for you to pretend that someone told you that if you don't finish this or that, that's it!!! For me sometimes also worked when people instead of telling me "you're very bright, bla bla" would tell me "Right, you won't make it, you'll never make it". And that kinda made me feel like I wanted to actually do it... Anyways PM me if you want to share some more thoughts.

de-activate your facebook!!!!

Get in a routine each day, start writing something- you should know your topic inside out now. I have no doubt you are very capable otherwise I assume you would not have mad it this far? Plan each chapter- and get going. It would be such a shame to throw it all away when you have got this far!

I have exactly the same advice:

1. set a routine and stick to it
2. work without internet.

I ve been there myself. It's just a matter of getting out of this trap you have fallen in over the few months.

Good luck. Just keep going. Download a PhD from British library ethos and you will see that a submitted PhD doesn't have to be perfect, it has to be finished.