Wow, thanks Sparkles for this post. I am in the same situation, as others have said. I am 3 years 8 months. I feel so inadequate that I found I am having extreme mood swings and do not even feel as if I can be in a position to apply for future jobs. Ahh the last three weeks I find that I am an emotional mess and at night I feel so sad and can't sleep.

I have had tons of hoops and hurdles to get through as my first supervisor retired in July, then of course I got a new one. This one, however, did not support my research and somehow influenced me to change the whole focus (research question and objectives). Dumbest thing I've ever done! 10 months later (today) she said she still is not confident I understand the general concepts. But I do, and I get stumbled on words and ideas in meetings where I struggle to talk.

But everything else you said, I can relate to, and even so far along, I have questioned continuing this horrible process.

Hello,

Unfortunately I am in the same situation. I have great friends who keep telling my to hang in there, but it is hard!