At my institution we have a committee which can take over the roles of 1 or both sups if necessary. I'm not saying ditch your sup, but if you can find info on equivilant studies, try to do what they did and find another collegue who may have some experience in the area to run it by them. Then just do it. Its your project and your phd at the end of the day. I know that can be tough and also tricky, but it does sound like sup#2 is on your side. Perhaps make your feelings ref taking a break known to them?
If you want to take a break to get more experience to help you in the long run then do it. IF you are taking a break to escape and 'recover' do consider whether its worth it, sorting it all out etc and coming back again to start exactly where you left, probably with the exact same issues.I don't think its that 'you're not suited' its more a motivational thing. There must have been a reason why you chose to do the phd in the first place and even if that reason has changed since then, you did really want it at the time. You owe it to that part of yourself to keep trying. Just take things one step at a time. I kept a diary/journal which gave me everyday tasks to complete and a couple of tasks each day towards a longer term goal. You'll start to see progress and that may help you, it worked for me! I hope you can sort your issues out, keep going you can do it!

I think if you really don't like the situation you're in that much, i'd leave now. I have a friend who is 6 months from finishing and has had the most awful time. He has had the worlds most diffficult supervisor coupled with an ill-thought out project. However, he cannot bring himself to leave after investing so much time into trying. In hindsight, he would have quit in his first year. My advice is that if there is no way you can yourself improve the situation such as switching projects (its still early enough at 9months) or switching supervisor, try chatting to someone to see how much you would need to get a masters from your current work. If the answers no, please dont waste another 2+yrs of your life being miserable because it wont get easier and you'll never get it back and you'll be unlikely to get the most out of the phd.

You are definately not alone! I'm currently going through something similar. Like you i've got 3 months left, a paper which needs writing and the 'T' to write. The lack of motivation I have now is really frightening! Especially as i'm so close to finishing! I wasn't even this bad in my 2nd year dip but currently i'd give anything to just pack it all in and get my life back.
I'm sorry that I have no words of advice to help you out of the rut, but I can truely say, you're not the only one!!:$

surely if you look back at the expereince and cant see how you would change anything then something is wrong! I have been chatting to the years above me and everyone wishes they could have changed something, not done something. I think its normal to look back and wish, you have the experience to recognise it which surely is what getting a phd is about. so, even if you stay in science or leave, without the PhD you may never have even made those choices you wish you had. Hope that makes sense :)

you didnt mention your field. but if it has a practical side, try demonstrating. its less scary than lecturing and you can practise different teaching techniques in a supportive environment as you wont be the only one there! good luck :)

I know how you feel. Although it sounds mad, and please bear with me, I found my routine to help for huge expts! I plan the day before where I should be by break, lunch, coffee and cake time etc. It breaks up the impossible task into little mini goals, then i can reward myself with chocolate/human contact :) without feeling guilty. Only when im in control do I dare check my email (facebook is worse!). I also get in as early as possible to give myself plently of time in the day but also to start off the day on my own, so I can get my head around the task without people asking questions etc. hope you find a solution :)

what i thought was a brilliant idea was those experience vouchers. my supervisors previous students got him a rally driving day which he enjoyed. So i would go for something like that

thanks guys! Thanks for all the messages of support. I sat down with both supervisors (separately so they cant disagree :)) and we reviewed my mini action plan and this years deadlines. So I now have a more positive action plan, completing some simple stuff which should work first then move onto the more annoying bits. They were lovely and more supportive then I thought (both tea and chocolate were thrust my way), I guess they understand a lot more then I give them credit for. I feel a lot more positive today, even though deep down you know people do and are going through the same thing, its always nice to hear x

I have just started my second year and have hit a really low patch. My recent experiments suggest that what I have been trying to make for the past year and a bit might not work anyway. This coupled with my uncharacteristically low motivation is making things very difficult.

I know people hit a rough patch in their second year, but does anyone have any advice they wish had been said to them during such a time? thanks

you know what? after a whole year of trying to stay awake between 2-3, i go to the corner of the library and take a 15 min nap. i dont need it everyday, but OMG does it help. there is no point fighting sleep...or you just knock over your carefully prepared cell culture...

dont worry!!! im going through the same thing. Im about to start my second year and seem to have hit the lack of motivation stage. I used to socailise with loads of people but my network consists of work, housemate and b/f. oh dear!! but the thing that gets me out of bed is the knowledge that no one is doing what im doing, so i better get on and do it before someone else does! x