Thanks so much for all the advice- it really is very much appreciated. I've already been to see the careers service and have managed to sort out some work experience over the summer. I think it would do me good to focus on stuff that's slightly less important to the PhD but unfortunately I'm supposed to have my upgrade in June so I really need to be writing for that (so far haven't written a word).
I really find it hard to separate things out at the minute as well (do I hate the research, the topic, the post-grad lifestyle or all three?)
All this stress might be for nothing though...I've re-applied for funding for the next two years and if I get rejected again I'll have to quit anyway since I simply can't afford to continue so the decision might be made for me!

Hi,

First post here...just really need some impartial advice at the moment...sorry if this is a bit long-winded. I'm in the first year of my PhD (literature based) and I hate it. I was always convinced I wanted a career in academia, I took a year out after my undergrad degree then came back to my old uni and completed a research MA 07/08 before starting my PhD in October. I'm partially funded by my department and work part-time (but am doing the PhD full-time). I basically lost all motivation just after Christmas. I talked to my supervisor and told her I had no interest in the work, I can't make myself research and when I go to conferences and seminars I just feel bored. She told me it was just a bit of a dip and I should just get on with writing instead of procrastinating. So I did but it's now almost May and the thought of heading back to uni for summer term is horrible. It's not just the topic, I also hate the whole post-grad lifestyle. There's absolutely no post-grad community at my uni, I've tried so many times to get people out for a drink but there's just no interest- everyone's totally immersed in their own research. I've never felt so isolated and I don't think I can live like this for another 2 years (optimistically assuming I finish when I'm meant to!) I tried to talk to some of my friends about this but they just made me feel like a failure for even thinking about quitting...it's like they can't imagine a world outside of academia. Any advice would be great- I'm really struggling with this...all I do is go on and on about this problem and it's turning me into this whiny, depressed person who I really don't want to be.