That's good advice from gwen88. Break it into small bits, maybe draw up a timetable for what you'll make yourself do each week to get it all done on time, and plan a reward at the end of the week- something that will give your brain a rest! You'll probably find that when you get down to it, it's not as bad as it seems because part of feeling demotivated is the feeling that you should be doing it and aren't -so removing that can help. If you can't face more than two or three small bursts of it during the day, just start off with what you can manage. My partner has just been through this, he was so sick of the thesis he left it really late but he had someone (me) to gently prompt him to do it before he had to start panicking. If you have someone in similar position perhaps their encouragement could help?

Hi I've been through the PhD mill, and am now an independent science consultant, writer and researcher. I'm compiling a piece for publication to raise awareness of post graduates experiences of bullying and or harassment during their PhD's. I suffered from both, unrelentingly, throughout mine and believe from anecdotal reoprts I've heard and read over the three years since I finished it, that my experience was far from isolated. There is no adequate prtection from employment law for PhD students if they need to complain, only the university complaints procedure which in my experience simply does not work for major bulling and/or harassment complaints. This which is the main issue I intend to address in the piece I write. I would welcome any PhD student's experiences of such treatment, (treated in the strictest confidence), by replying to me privately or on the forum. Initially I aim to compile an article for publication in the Times Higher Ed or The Guardian in which I can indicate the extent of the problem supported by anonymised reports (reproduced with permission). This is a very sensitive issue and the need for confidentiality essential, so please feel reassured that this will be guaranteed.

I think that, unless you're charged, there is little point in telling them. The situation will change if you are, then you'll have to unfortunately. People have time out from PhD's for many reasons, a lot of them completely unanticipated, and manage to make the time up (there are extention facilities available for mitigating circumstances you'd probably qualify for). The fact that you are doing a PhD may also work in your favour with sentencing as the court will be able to see that you're trying to do your best to contribute to society and get away from previous problems etc. This must be stressful, a good lawyer will help negotiate the next few months.