Cheers for the advice Yogi! I contacted him a couple of days ago and he was absolutely fine. I had created such a drama about it, worrying that he would reproach me for being out of touch for so long, but he didn't! He was really understanding and didn't seem bothered at all. It's so funny how we can build these things up, and then when we finally face them, we find there was nothing to worry about. I'm so relieved now. I didn't realise how much the avoidance was affecting me.

Thank you all SO SO much for being supportive and extremely helpful. I lost my motivation back in July due to health concerns/personal troubles and the three months have gone by in a flash. I can't believe how quickly it's passed. When we start our PhDs, we all imagine the 3-4 years to be an ocean of time, but in fact it flies by!!! I've tried sitting down at my desk and reading, but I've not been able to manage more than 20mins. You go through this dilemma (as you're all aware) of thinking 'Should I force myself to do the work or go with my rhythms and take it easy on myself?' The problem is, that I've been following the latter train of thought and 'taking it easy' has equated to three months with nothing to show for! I need to attend a course about motivation issues, I think, along as taking all the fab advice you all have offered. Thanks again everyone!!!

Hello everyone! I know this is going to sound dreadful, but I haven't done a lick of work on my PhD for three months!!! My personal life has been chaotic, to say the least, and I've just been so swept up with trying to cope that I haven't had the motivation or the least bit desire to settle down to any writing. My sup and I haven't been in touch since July, and I'm scared to email him because I'm terrified he'll have a go at me. I know this isn't the most mature of approaches (utter avoidance!) but over time, I've built it up to such a height that I don't know what to do now. (You know that feeling when you don't call someone for ages, and then you can't bear the thought because you've left it for so long?)

Have any of you had such extended periods of inactivity with the PhD? How did you get back into the swing of it? I've just not been able to concentrate at all! Cheers!

My boss always speaks to me with an elevated level of authority, almost as if he's saying 'You may be doing a PhD missy, but I'm still your boss'. I get a sense that he feels threatened by me (though he shouldn't!!!), and so he compensates by exerting his authority every minute I'm in that building. He never lets off. Basically, I know that I'm being treated differently because of the PhD, and it's really getting to me. Any advice on how to deal with this?

Hi everyone! I was wondering if you all could shed some light on my current problems at work which I feel are connected to my do a PhD. I started a part-time office job three months ago because my funds had run dry. I am being treated differently by my boss and colleagues, and I know it's because I'm doing a PhD. The women at work treat me with disdain. I'm the only woman working there who isn't married with kids, and they seem to despise me for this. If my boss asks me to work overtime, and I tell him that I have to work on my PhD, he doesn't take me seriously, whereas if one of the mothers says she can't because of her kids, he's complicit.

I had a supervision yesterday, and I am now convinced that the man doesn't like me. I don't know what I've done to evoke such feelings from him, but it's plain to see that he dislikes me. I decided to just let it wash over, but now it's really bothering me. Does anyone else have unfavourable responses in their supervisions? It seems as though he's really uncomfortable around me, and I can't figure out why. One of my friends actually suggested that he fancies me, and hence the uncomfortable behaviour. Is this possible? I'd much rather entertain that notion than think that he despises me! I'd love some feedback on this.

You're most definitely looking too far ahead! There is no guarantee that we will all pass our PhDs, for instance! I think you're stressing yourself unnecessarily at this point in the game, seeing as you're still working on your Masters. Just focus on trying to pass your MA and take it from there.

I suffer with this too, all the time. I think I've got CFS because as far back as I remember, I've always suffered from extremely low energy. This is something I've battled through for years. I always feel light-headed and dizzy, like I'm going to pass out all the time, and my attention span is really poor--amazing that I'm doing a PhD really. I find it difficult to concentrate, so I'll sit down to read and my mind will start drifting off after 15 mins or so. birdsandbees, how did you get diagnosed with CFS/ME? I've gone to the doc loads of time to discuss this, and they've only ever tested me for anaemia and thyroid, but everything came out ok.

Yeah, I've emailed people on many occasions and they all agree that they'll be there, and never turn up! I was feeling pretty rubbish about it, as I'd convinced myself that no one liked me! Then I spoke to another PhDer who had the same outcome when he tried to get people together. We've since tried to start a group, but we both get fobbed off with 'I'm too busy. Sorry.' He emailed me yesterday and said that he was fed up and couldn't be bothered anymore. Oh well, it was a nice idea.

Do any of you have such a group? If so, I'm very jealous indeed!

It'd be such a great opportunity to just let some steam off, and know that you're not alone. I had visions of creating a little support group, but after many botched attempts, I've given up. Loneliness is such a burning issue for PhD students, and it seems ridiculous that we should suffer on our own knowing that there are people around us going through the same thing. Why do you think I'm having such a difficult time getting people together? Is it just that people don't want to talk about their concerns? Any feedback welcome

Hi everyone! Following on from my other thread, I wanted to start another one to find out if any of you are having difficulty trying to get people together? I have tried on numerous occassions to organise meetings with other PhD students, all to no avail. It's so frustrating. It seems that everyone just wants to suffer on their own. Wouldn't it be great though if you had a group that you met with every week to talk through things, to get things off your chest?

In fact, I'm going to start a new thread on this right now...

I've given up now. I got so frustrated with organising get togethers. Everyone agreed they'd love to come along, and no one turned up. It seems such a shame if you have a shared burden and don't take the opportunity to forge relationships. I like working on my own, but would also like to meet up with people to just chat and remind myself that I'm part of a world out there!

Know what you mean. I'm finding it frustrating, because I can't even talk to my fellow PhDers about it. They don't like talking about the PhD, which I find absurd considering that it's something we all share! We could give each other support and take the weight off by just talking through any problems/issues we're having, but no one's interested. I have tried on several occassions to organise coffee meetings and no one turned up, and yet when I see them on campus, they all look so miserable. It's actually quite difficult to network with other PhD students.