Rosy, it's just sometimes a comfort to know that you're not the only one that's having issues while everyone around you seems happy in their work! I just keep looking at all the options, the easiest is to stay and plod on, I have no doubt that I can get my PhD, that's not the issue, it's the fact that I don't think it's going to help me in the future, sure the title would be a nice ego boost but is it worth another two/three years by the time I'm written up just for that when I know I don't want a career in academia? And if I wanted to go into industry, are those years not better spent gaining practical experience? I just keep going round in circles at the minute. I haven't spoken to me supervisor yet, which I know I must, he's not going to kick me out for having doubts about my future is he?!!

It's october week at the minute, so next week when the schools are back I'm going to see about getting a few days in the classroom. I've done a lot of activities with school children as we have a research communication programme at uni that I've been pretty involved in. I love it. I know that if I do decide to leave and follow the teaching route that it's going to be hard work and I know that teaching can be stressful and difficult, but the teaching activities that i've done since being a post grad have been the things I have enjoyed most and gotten the most out of. I am just so miserable at the minute I really need to do something about it. I come in everyday and have little motivation to do my work. I love my subject, I really do, but the frustration and tedium of my PhD is slowly sucking the enthusiasm from me!

So, sorry to drag this up, but back from the holiday, and back in the lab. And I'm not happy. I don't want to have a career in academia. Of all the things I do at uni, the thing Ilove most is demonstrating, and I'm really good at it. So I'm considering leaving and becoming a teacher. Am I mad to even consider this? Forgetting all about the future with my other half etc, it can't be right to feel this depressed about my PhD. I have no motivation and hoped that after being away it would reignite my drive, but it hasn't. I love my subject but my research is sucking that passion away I feel!

I agree, as long as you have some friendly faces in your group (which will be helped by taking hob nobs/cake!) you'll be fine!

It sometimes seems like we (as women especially) have to make a sacrifice somewhere along the line, we have to risk our personal lives to gain the academia achievements or we have to sacrifice them to an extent to settle down and put down roots. I don't know if this will make sense but sometimes don't you feel like you're not a grown up? Like that by doing your PhD you are tying yourself to 'studentism' for anouther 3/4 years?!

See in an ideal world, I would find a job I loved but carry on my PhD part-time, would take forever but at least I'd get it in the end!

Just booked the holiday 10 mins ago, can't wait to get away from the lab for a couple weeks in the sun......got my stack of trashy holiday novels ready to go!

Thanks hatethelab, at the minute I'm looking into what jobs are actually around and really thinking about what I actually want to do, all I really know right now is I don't want to stay in academia. I've been talking everything through with my other half, he's been amazing, all he wants is mo to be happy, and he'll support me whatever i decide to do. Going on holiday next week, so maybe two weeks away from it all will give me the break and the distance from the whole thing I need, who knows I may come back eagar to bash away at my work, but I really think it's going to be good to get a decent break! I', glad you're so much happier than you were.

So is there many people who have left and found it the absolute right thing to do? Or has anyone left and regretted it?

celesmai, one thing I've learned from the couple days posting on here is telling someone who is in the same boat as you about how crap you're feeling can make things seem better just to know you're not the only one! So rant away luv!

A job in academia may suit a working mum but how much to do have to endure to get there? And the opportunities are few and far between from what I can gather. Getting the right post-doc is a mission and with contract work, do you have the same security when it comes to maternity leave etc? I know it m,ay sound a bit random as I am no where near ready for a fmaily, but it's things like this I'm realising you have to think about.

Three years ago I was the most focused person, i knew what I wanted where I wanted to go and how to get there, but I htink when you find the person you want to marry you start to realise that there is more to life than uni.

I empathise with all of you that have been so kind to share your stories with me, it's a comfort to know I'm not alone, and hopefully a comfort to you too.

i am so so glad I'm not the only one to feel like this, thank you so much.

See the couple people I've spoken to about this are not in academia and don't really understand what it's like, all I get is 'don't be silly, you need a holiday, and you'll regret it if you give it up'. But I am definitely not going to sacrifice my relationship, it took me too long to find him and to be this happy personally that I don't think what is ultimately just a piece of paper is worth risking that for.

But then is the question if I do leave, what do I do?! Feel so disillusioned with the whole field, yet I'm not qualified to do anything else!

I posted in another topic and my post got lost in the thread, so sorry to repeat for those who have read it before, but could really use some advice.

I'm just beginning second year of my PhD and having serious doubts as to whether it's the right thing for me. I love and hate my work, when things work it's brilliant but this is interspersed with months of nothing. The feeling of wasting months of work is so disheartening.

I'm engaged and want to buy a house, get married and eventually start a family, when i finsh my PhD I will be 27 and only just embarking on the career ladder, and from what I know not only do there not seem to be the jobs out there in industry I'll probably end up doing something I could of walked into at 21. I want a promising career and love my subject but I don't like the way my personal life seems to be on hold because of my PhD and the big fat question mark over whether it will actually make any difference to my career.

I just feel so frustrated. Ladies especially, am I the only one?!

well, after reading the whole thread and the most recent responses, I wasn't sure whether to post my opinion for fear of being panned, but here goes.....

I'm in a similar situation, i'm just beginning my second year and am having serious doubts as to whether it is the right thing for me. I love and hate my work, when things work it's brilliant (i do chemistry) but this is interspersed with months of nothing. The feeling of wasting months and months of work is so disheartening.

I'm engaged and want to buy a house, get married and eventually start a family, when i finsh my PhD I will be 27 and only just embarking on the career ladder, and from what I know not only do there not seem to be the jobs out there in industry I'll probably end up doing something I could of walked into at 21. I want a promising career and love my subject but I don't like the way my personal life seems to be on hold because of my PhD.

I just feel so frustrated. Ladies especially, am I the only one?!