======= Date Modified 15 Oct 2012 23:03:47 =======
Yep - I know exactly how you feel!! Happened to me several times during the course of my PhD (I vivaed in July 2012). I know it's a miserable time, the only thing that got me though it was taking 1 day at a time, and not thinking past that. I had deadlines and goals I wanted to meet, but in terms of day to day stuff, when I was feeling like you are, I only thought about the next 24 hours, if thought past that, I freaked myself out, worried about what might/might not happen and I didn't do anything productive. If I thought about just those 24 hours, I found myself to be productive, and when that feeling comes back everything else starts to fall into place....slowly, but it will.

Just remember, you can put negative data into a PhD thesis! A PhD is about showing you can think - don't forget it's a Philosophy degree!!

Hi,

I recently just got my PhD (biological sciences). My 3 years were up in Sept 2011 and I got given a reasearch assistant position in Oct 2011 within the same group...all I can say is it was tough! No way was mine 35 hours/week. Some evenings were spent preparing presentations/reports for the assistant job, EVERY weekend was spent writing my thesis and any weekeday evening I had. My supervisor had no concept of how long things took and I can honestly say I've never been under so much pressure. I finallly submitted my thesis in June 2012, vivaed in July 2012 - passed.

In my honest opinion - if you can afford it financially, take writing up status, spend 2-3 months full time and get your thesis submitted. If finances are an issue then apply for the RA position. If it's in the same uni as you're doing your PhD in it may even help keep your mind focused on writing.

I'm sorry if this post has been a bit of a bummer, but I'm not going to lie, it was tough...the one saving grace is that it's not forever...it'll be a few months where you may have to kiss goodbye to your social life and just keep your head down and work. It's not impossible! :-)

Hope it all works out for you!