Hi Pixiedust,

Reading your post felt like I was reading my own thoughts! It's so reassuring to know that I'm not the only one feeling this way. I'm coming to the end of my second year and wondering how I am going to cope with the next 12-18 months without going crazy. I completely empathise with the feelings of uselessness and guilt, and today I have been 'working at home' i.e. doing nothing. The last two years has completely put me off an academic career, but I've also decided that I've come too far to quit now, so I'm just going to try to do the minimum amount necessary to pass, and try to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

To make it a bit more bearable (and to help me get up in the morning), I've planned fun things to do every few weeks, even if it's just meeting a friend outside university for a day, to give myself other things to focus on, and to break down the time so that a year doesn't seem so long. And I try really hard to leave my PhD behind in the evenings and at weekends, so that it doesn't take over my life (Although I have to admit that sometimes this is almost impossible!). Taking a bit of time away from the work can really help too.

I'd try again with speaking to your supervisor, or maybe you could try another academic/post doc for a second opinion on what you've got so far?

Good luck with it all, I'm sure we'll both make it in the end!