Thanks to both of you for your replies last night. I'm new to this whole post grad forum and its nice to hear the opinion of other students. Thats another problem really, our lab is based away from the main uni and theyre aren't really any other phd students in my lab so it can be quite isolating, easy to start feeling like you're the only one with these problems. You're both right in the sense that i need to take a step back, booked a holiday and looking forward to getting a break from everything. Thanks again for your advice. Not going to make any rash decisions right now...will stick it our and hope for the best :-)

I started my phd 6 months ago, I'm working as an RA n doing phd part time although spending 85% of my time on my phd. I work 10/11 hr days and most wkends and although I love my research recently I've started to question everything. I recently broke up with my boyfriend as my phd was putting too much strain on our relationship, it's gutting as I love him so much but put my work before my relationship and as a result lost the most important person in my life. On top of this my supervisor has fallen out with me as i questioned her ability as my supervisor. A tad silly perhaps but she is a medic and I am a scientist. I actually have more lab experience than her and am concerned that although I am producing great results I'm not getting the best training. I never have anyone helping me in the lab, have to teach myself every new technique and I'm struggling to keep up- I don't want to be the kind of scientist who can technically do an experiment but doesn't fully understand the techniques they are using. I feel totally lost ATM and am seriously considering packing it all in. Is a phd really worth it? I used to think so.