I live about 45 mins away from uni, and I find it quite difficult. You don't really feel a part of it all. I usually can't be bothered to attend any of the lectures/seminars hosted by the various departments because of the hassle of getting home! On the other hand, it's very peaceful where I live, so when I go home, I really feel like I've walked away from it all. I think it will be an advantage in the summer because it will be an ideal place to work. Overall, I think I'd prefer to be closer to uni, so if I had an urge to work, I could just rush out the door and be at the library in 10 mins.

Eddi I was so shocked when I read this. Nervous exhaustion is very serious stuff, the consequence of chronic stress and anxiety. It's your body telling you that it can't cope anymore with the stresses being placed upon it. My mom suffered from it when she was getting a divorce and losing her house. It's definitely not to be taken lightly so I would listen to the advice that the others have given and take some time out. I've been feeling despondent and unmotivated recently--sounds like you and I are suffering the extremes, you've cared too much and I too little!

Olivia, you have no idea just how much you have lifted me up today. Thank you so much for such positive feedback. It actually means alot to me. Everything you said resonates with me, and I'm definitely going to take on board what you've said about getting involved in some activities, evaluating my diet/routine, etc. I realised after reading your posts that I've not been taking the best care of myself. I drink no water at all during the day, and my diet is really bad. Also, I've been having very little contact with people, and have been feeling disconnected. Pamela, thanks for your encouragement too, very uplifting indeed. You guys have helped me alot, so give yourselves a great big pat on the back for that!

Thanks for the support guys. I think it's doing the same thing day in day out, along with the isolation of working at home, and just feeling like I have no idea where this is heading. I've actually hit quite a bad patch of apathy, and am finding it difficult to get motivated. Also, the struggling to survive financially, and not even being able to afford a haircut is getting me down. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I've actually romanticised working full-time where I'd have a routine and structure and the security of not having to worry about money. I think I've got too much time on my hands with the PhD, and I've ended up pondering and dwelling on things too much, so that's kicked off depression and worry. I just feel hopeless right now, like there's nothing to look forward to. (Sorry, don't mean to get anyone down)

Well, that says it all really. I've hit quite a low point in my PhD. I feel so demotivated and uninterested. I'm drained, and the same old same old every day is really getting me down. I think it's quite an amazing feat, staying interested in one topic for 3-4 years! How mad are we?! I'll be amazed if I make it through this bloody thing to be honest, the way I'm feeling.

Definitely, and I can't say I'm surprised we're feeling this way. It's alot that we're trying to take in with the PhD. I feel tired and lethargic all the time, and my attention span is shorter with each day. I've had many days where I have the intention of taking a quick nap, and wake up three hours later! This PhD business is draining.

Definitely get clarification on precisely what it is you need to do instead of just deciding to get on with a complete re-working. You seem to have two completely different viewpoints from the examiners here, and I wouldn't bust my back trying to do more work than is needed. 'Pass pending minor corrections' is the most common outcome of a viva, it being very rare to pass without having to do any corrections.

Whoa, I slept right through it too--I'm gutted I missed it!

When I'm at home, I do try to break up the day by taking coffee breaks, or getting out of the house for a walk, but it still feels stifling. The thing is, I can't spend any money, as I don't have it, so I'm resigned to doing 'free stuff', which is great, but limited. What a quandary. I'm sure that alot of PhD students find this quite frustrating.

I'm finding this such a difficult negotiation to make. I've been getting quite down recently, and I attribute it to feeling like a prisoner in the house, and have been getting 'cabin fever' from spending too much time here. Then I decide to go to the library to break the spell, and when I get there I want to leave after 1 hour, which actually wastes more time, because by the time I've decided to trek to uni, get there and decide I'm fed up and want to go home, I've wasted a day. I like studying in coffee houses, but then that means spending at least a fiver a day, so it becomes an expensive habit, and I get frustrated spending £2.50 on a cup of coffee when I know I can have it free at home! I'd ideally like to spread my time out in different places, but I can't seem to find a system that works

Hi everyone. I just wanted to know where everyone tends to do their work. I'm trying to shake up my monotonous routine of waking up and sitting at my desk at home, so I decided to start going to the library instead. The problem is, I feel quite restricted when I'm there. I can't get up whenever I want and make myself a cuppa, or listen to my tunes. I actually find it quite stressful, the completely silent atmosphere! Also, I feel uncomfortable leaving me stuff to go to the loo. I've heard of people's things being knicked when they've been away from their desks for even a minute. Where do you tend to do your best work?

Eddi, are you having a better day today? It looks like I'm having the day you had yesterday today. Writing a summary of a text is actually quite a difficult thing to do, not to be underestimated. I'm finding it quite difficult to integrate all of the information I've collected so far, and I can imagine it's only going to get worse!

I had the same set-up as you bellaz, the treat drawer strategically positioned next to my desk so I wouldn't have to get up. I've decided to stop buying treats now, because if they're there, they'll get eaten, but if I don't have anything I'll just drink tea or coffee. I think this is a situation that alot of PhD students find themselves in.

Olivia, can you find a shared house or something with one of your friends? I think you'd feel much happier with that arrangement.

Olivia, you're bringing back memories (or nightmares rather) of my halls of residence experiences. I absolutely loathed living in student accomodation. In my last place, we had 10 people sharing a matchbox kitchen, so it was always packed. I couldn't bear it, so I put a microwave in my room and lived off ready meals for a year! Uni accomodation is notoriously pants. We were treated like kids, even though it was a postgrad building full of PhDers. The warden used to let himself into our rooms without permission, and the cleaners were always hanging about. I had a friend staying with me for one night and was told off the next morning-hated every minute of it!