Keeping getting lost in the quagmire of self-doubt and worrying that I don't know what I'm doing or what the overall structure is... I am also enjoying the 'discovering' too much, and seem to spend more time absorbing new things than necessarily synthesising them... and the writing... oh it's taking me forever to do very little at all, just little fragments for meeting with sup. Would be interested to hear how other first years are doing?? It is a lonely old world, this PhD!

What a relief to read this! I too started in October and I do feel like I'm regressing with every day... I seem to know less and less. And feel like a fraud waiting to be found out! I only hope that it will get easier, or get more bearable. And I know, Stressed, it's that the hardest bit - not being able to say this to anyone who might understand... especially because I don't really want to be convert them to my way of thinking! And it is so lonely. And too much. And...

But we can get there! (I hope).

good news, panel 5 doctoral. good luck for all still waiting...

panel 5 doctoral, still waiting....