posted about 7 years ago
The first thing to say is that at the start of a PhD pretty much everyone feels inadequate and anxious - it's a big thing to start, and unknown territory, so that's perfectly normal.
The third month is very early to decide to quit, so if I were you I would stick it a while longer and see how it goes - but of course, you have to decide what you think is right for you.
It sounds like the contact with other PhD students would really help, and the courses would be a good way to make that contact. But if you're really unenthusiastic about the subject that would be more of a concern for me - you do have to immerse yourself in the research to get through. Of course, this early into a PhD you might not yet have found the bits that really will make it interesting for you, so again I'd give it a bit longer before deciding one way or the other.
The jobs market back home is another consideration - assuming you're actually being funded to do your studies, even if you do ultimately decide to quit, it's worth sticking at it until you have something else to go to, if you possibly can. But only you know how big an effect the experience is having on things like anxiety and depression - there's no point making yourself ill.
It sounds to me like you just need a bit of reassurance - and this forum is great for realising just how common all those insecurities actually are! I hope you come back to it all refreshed next term.