I was a full time PhD student for 4 years. I had no funding, and limited parental support, so I was 'full-time' working three days a week paid work, and also volunteering in a museum (related to my chosen career). I thought I could cope, but instead burned out. I ended up an emotional mess, with a growing feeling of inadequacy. I ended up de-registering, to think. I got a job - a low-level post, albeit in the field I want to be in, but the PhD is still there, two years on, waiting to be finished, or binned for good. I know it would be great to have career-wise, and also I need to face my demons by proving to myself I can do it. Do you think it's worth it? After a two year break out of it - keeping up with general reading but basically not even looking at it - would you still try and finish? Would it look bad on a CV to have taken so long? Part of me wants to, but sometimes thinking about it makes me feel sick with worry and with massive self-doubt - I am just not good enough...