Hi Dear Friends
I am Alice 30 years old, It is a long time that I suffer from OCD but it in recent years dealing with it has become easier.
I was a very intelligent and hardworking student till start of my universities school that OCD showed itself in my life. After taking medicines i never could having that concentration I had before. I could not study alone and always prefered studying with my friends and studying in libraries to overcome lack of concentration and get rid of cycling thoughts. I hadnt concentration in classes but studying short time just before exam helped me to pass courses. In my Master I didnt study well either but just for my final thesis I put all my effort( for 3 months) and it resulted in good result.
I can say I can do short time tasks well with good result
I finished my undergraduate and Master 5 years ago and after that I started working as Network administrator but as I was thinking I have more abilities I applied for PHD and I could get admission with good scholarship in Canada.
I had too much doubt doing that because I was afraid of concentration but I started it last semester. At first I put all my efforts reading articles and as I had less concentration I had to put more time. During this semester I had lots of stress always thinking I dont know what to do( I put time but it hadnt positive results) because of it I changed my supervisor and started another subject at first it was good but after a while again I had lots of stress I get a leave for previous semester and now I dont know if I continue my PHD or it doesnt worth this much of stress.....
I just have fear of it....Actually as a network administrator I was satisfied with my work because it didnt need that much concentration. Know I am thinking perhaps getting certificates in my job and becoming professional be better for me as it needs less conentrations ....
I dont feel well quiting PHD because of OCD...
Please help me ....

Do something that you enjoy doing and that you want to do. It will be easier for you. if you are going to stress yourself so much and let your health be affected, it is never worth it. That is my opinion. But you are your best judge. you know what your limits are and how much you can push yourself. Do not worry, be calm and take a call. It will all be for the good.

Agree with Jenstallon, it's not worth the stress and the hassle. I think it might be worth going to see your doctor or a university counsellor first though, just to see if there is anything they can do for you.

Whether or not you should continue with your PhD partly depends on why you wanted to do it in the first place, and whether those reasons still stand. Is it going to help you reach a long term goal?

Have you ever tried cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)? It might give you some tools to cope better with these issues, whatever career path you take. I would definitely suggest seeking advice from student support or a counsellor before making this decision.

Hello,

with all respect to your situation, I think that the first thing you should do is go to a specialist - and in this case, this is not your supervisor. I was close to your own age when I finished my phd from a prestigious university, and I still remember how stressed I was during the final stages, which might seem to be interminable; you'll find out this, if you decide to go on with your phd. Please keep in mind that a PhD dissertation represents a very complex process of thinking, reading, writing, and revising, and talking - all these in one package. You have to be possessed of determination and insistence in order to complete this task; doubts, bad thoughts and letting your mind go away from what is at stake is not the right way. I don't know much about the disorder you describe, but perhaps you should no longer insist in your phd study, if you can't control your thoughts, because the phd demands total devotion and long hours of working unobstructed. If quitting, you shouldn't blame yourself; most phds are unemployed nowadays. Good luck.