Thank you all for your replies. It's good to hear that others have felt this bad about their PhD at some point but that things have improved. However, at the moment I'm so unmotivated by the prospect of getting a PhD that it's very difficult to keep going, or put anywhere near enough effort into my work.

Walrus-I am indeed a brain person! But stuck doing bioinformatics, which I'm finding soul-destroying. I spend almost a year working a lab before starting my PhD but didn't really enjoy lab work either (I applied for the PhD before this experience). I think part of the problem was that I just rushed into a PhD without really thinking about it, mainly because my tutors were so enthusiatic about it and having got funding, it seemed silly not to do it.

I think the ideal situation would be to take a few months out, just to think things through in a calmer way. The thought of trying to get a job in the current economic climate is absolutely terrifying, but I don't think this factor would be a good enough reason to stay doing work that's making me miserable for three years.

Has anyone managed to arrange taking a few months out?

Anyway, thanks again for all your really helpful comments and I hope everyone else's PhD dilemma's get sorted out.

Hi!
I am in a complete quandry about whether to continue with my PhD. I started this October having come straight from an MSc and a BA and have not really enjoyed it so far. I think the main problems are that I hadn't had any experience of the kind of work I'd be doing when I applied and am now not enjoying research work as much as I thought I would. The second main issue is that I've never had a break from studying and am currently feeling burnt out and lacking in motivation. I've also moved a long way from home, was pretty ill for the first few months, and have gone through a break up so am currently feeling very low and lacking in enthusiasm for my studies.

I've been thinking about quitting for a while now but am prevented from doing it by the following reasons:
1. worry that I'll regret it, particularly as the start has not been smooth
2. fear of unemployment (I have an idea that I'd like to pursue a career in academic publishing but am aware that this is a notoriously difficult area to get into)
3.worry that I'm letting people down (mainly my lab)/wasting MRC money/wasting an amazing opportunity.
4.concern that I'll have to pay back the 3 montjhs' studentship that I've already received (I've tried looking through the research council's website and can't find anything).

Whilst I'm feeling like this I'm finding it very difficult to concentrate and feel it's not fair on anyone else in my lab that my motivation is so low. Is it possible to take a couple of months off to think things over? I'm worried that once I've broached the subject with my superviser it will ruin the relationship between us? Also, whilst my superviser is always pleasant and helpful, she is very distant and sometimes I don't see her for quite a few days.

If anyone's been in a similar situation, or has any ideas about what to do, I would love some advice as this situation is driving me insane!

Thanks in advance for your help!