I've 5 essays to complete and my dissertation by the end of the postgrad degree, and im so scared im not going to finish on time - its really getting me down

Does anyone have any advice on coping with it/managing the work and stress / need help to keep going with it?

Try to make yourself a timetable, and factor in time to have away from your work, exercise or whatever you enjoy doing. Break your work down into smaller achievable tasks so you can see results quickly, that will make you feel better and more motivated. Also mix up where you work; spend some days at home, some at university, some in the library - you will feel like you are taking more of an active part in your work and will be more productive than if you were in the same place every day. What are you studying? Good luck!

Natassia has offered you some really good advice, get a list, make a timetable and stick to it - make sure the timetable is realistic too, things can take longer than you think they will so make sure you leave some space. It'll be fine, you'll get through it, just get your head down and work, don't get down, that's counter-productive (says she lol, the queen of the downers when under pressure) but seriously, once you have a structure in place, dates to work to, and know exactly what you're doing it'll all feel much more achievable - just go for it :-)

Hi, I'm in the same position as you, worried about whether I'm going to be able to finish my MA dissertation by the end of August - my time management strategies probably aren't that healthy, as they mainly consist of just attempting to work every single hour that I can! I do make time to exercise in the morning before I work, and that relieves a bit of stress, and then I have some time in the evening to do things that I like. I try to get at least 8 hours of solid work done each day, though I'm trying to extend this - today I only managed 6 hours though, but sometimes researching and reading just feels like wading through treacle. I feel I am getting somewhere though, albeit slowly.

To be honest, my new big motivator at the moment is the massive celebratory event I am planning to go to when I finish the course, which is happening on a certain day quite close to my deadline, which means that if I don't get my work done for that day, I basically can't go, which is helping to motivate me a lot! I've built it up into this big reward when I'm going to go all out, new hair, new clothes etc, so I have something to really look forward to and work towards - it's helping me to keep going anyway :)

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Thanks, you know your the nicest people I've come across in the past few weeks,made me feel alot better. Thanks for the advice, really helpful - will come here next time. For the last few days I've been studying, I've been so tired / lonely from studying non-stop, I'm not progressing as fast as I'd like to be or should be - I could just sleep now for the night and its only 6.30pm

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Like I think I'm coming to the point of dropping out in the next few days - I've so little time, I aimed to get the 5 essays in for end of June, I've 16 days. I dunno what to do, and I'm truly on my own - nobody will help me. My mum doesnt want to know - she gave me the money she's been saving for years - working, to help me through - and I've got to pay her back, cos she worked hard for that. It's getting to the point now towards the end of the masters, she cant give me money to keep me going each for week in food, and at the same time I cant cope with the backlog of work cos though she's being very negative (she's been on a bit of a major emotional rollercoaster past while - not her fault/ and it has taken its toll on me greatly), she's looking forward to me getting the masters/hoping/dreaming....but she can see that I barely standing up everyday, from a backlog of things that have been going on, nobody understands really, been through alot but nobody understands

and its hard to tell her I'm dropping out because I'm too hopeless to believe I can see it through, not on my own anyways

But at the same time - I've nobody to turn to for social, emotional or psychological support - don't think you'll understand

All I've done all year is work 24-7, no entertainment - my brain is so fogged, and upset, that its interfering, some days I can't think at all

I could just go die somewhere cos things aren't looking up, and I've just worked 24-7 for ever trying to get where I am - to the point now that I can't do for myself, I need someone to pick me up - dust me off - and walk with me to the end of this - cos I'm sinking really quickly - someone who'll be there all the time

Hi :-)

I quoted these few bits from what you wrote below on purpose. I think, you need to immediately go and see a counsellor. These are symptoms of depression, and while many have been there, many have also realised on time that they need some support. Please see a uni counsellor ASAP? A forum is helpful but I don't think forum/friends/family could 'really' help when you're having these thoughts like you say here.

This is exactly what counsellors are for. To help you get back on your feet. Do that immediately.

Best,

PhDBug

Agree completely. University counsellors are there for a purpose, and they do help people. Go and see one as soon as you can.

Good luck!

Thanks. I wouldnt really know how or what to say to student advisers. Not really able for a challenging of 'why' 'what' 'when' are you feeling this way. They can only give advice, but I need a friend to be there

Been crying, you know when you go through all the people who you'd call and you know you have gone through the list iin your head and there's no one you can call - was just walking along this morning on campus, it was quiet, sunny, was crying walking along on the path cos I went through everyone in my head to think to help / talk to and knew I was on my own

You shouldn't worry about what you'd say to them. It would be fine. Trust me: I've been there / done that! But don't pass up this chance for help. And if you can persuade a friend to come along that would almost certainly be fine with the counsellor too.

Take a break right now. Stop worrying, stop pushing yourself, and give yourself a little time. Stressing more now isn't going to get you a solution.

But please see a counsellor.

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thanks

i probably wouldnt speak, id just sit there but it's comforting just to have someone quietly sit with you,

I know I'd cry because I don't know what to do in general

Sinead, if you would be willing pl do a forum search for a person who came here in dec-jan with problems similar to yours. I'm afraid they have since then deleted their posts but the advice given by many on this forum may indeed be helpful for you. I think this was around december or jan and the person was called Masters2008.

In your case too, please do see a counsellor and take it from there, don't try to plan a conversation.

Cheers!

Hi Sinead,

Everyone is right, go and see a counsellor - not only will this help you to feel better, because it'll give you some emotional support, but you may be able to get extensions for your essays if you are really struggling with depression, as it seems that you are. I think it's important that you do this while you still have time, especially if it will help you to complete your masters.

I suffer with very similar problems to you, in terms of being isolated and not having any kind of active social life, working 24/7 etc - something that I think inevitably comes with the territory of moving to a new place to go to Uni, and having all your time eaten up by work; I just haven't had *time* to make friends and socialise. I've suffered from depression in the past, and around Christmas I recognised the symptoms in myself - I wasn't willing to sacrifice my masters for it, so I went straight to the counsellor and I've been having regular meetings all year, first individual and then group counselling, the latter of which has been particularly helpful as I've met some really nice people who are going through similar stresses to me. I think I'd be in a much poorer mental state at the moment if I didn't have the support of this group.


I honestly don't know if I'll ever finish this course successfully, and I still have a lot of doubts, but I just take it one day at a time and try not to get overwhelmed by the big picture. I would urge you to make the most of any support which your Uni offers you, that's what they're there for, nobody wants to see you fail. Good luck.

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Oh Sinead - you sound at the end of your tether! Listen to the others, go and see the uni counsellors - they are there to help you - you don't have to say a thing sweetheart, I PROMISE you, they'll have seen all this before, many many times - different backgrounds to the problem, but the same result. Nobody will think worse of you, nobody will think you can't cope, all anybody will think is that you need some support, some help, some reassurance, somewhere to have a darned good cry and let it all out, and then practical help with sorting out what sounds very much like depression, stress and over-work and getting you through this!

It sounds to me, reading your post, that you feel under an awful lot of pressure not only the 'normal' stresses of study, but also that your mother has done so very much to help you and you don't want to let her down. We can all understand that! We all know what its like to get behind and then you just don't know where to turn. You can get extensions on your essays, you can get an extension on the actual dissertation if necessary too if there are extenuating circumstances, and having seen the counsellors and if your dept know you're having a hard time then it'll be fine, they will work with you - all they want is for you to pass and for all this to have been so worth it - nobody wants you to crack under the strain and quit and they will do all they can to help you through that!

DON'T QUIT, ok????? Please don't quit! I completed my masters last year and there were a couple of people on my course who were much like you are now - one did quit, she still hasn't got a job, is on the dole, is looking to get back into education this coming year and if you asked her, even though she was at the point of breakdown at the time I know she'd say that you mustn't give up, get help and keep on. The other didn't quit, he submitted late, around December in the end, he'll be graduating with us in July as an MA - same result as those of us who submitted on time, but he got some help.

Go and talk, we're all here for you, we'll all help you anyway we can, but we aren't on site, we can't sit with you in person, we aren't 'experts' but there's always someone online to talk - but you also need proper help and possibly even medical support to help get you through this so you can be Sinead MA at the end of the year :-) (and you WILL be!!!) xxxxxx

Hey Sinead! Just to reiterate what everyone else has said really. Masters degrees are so so hard, I finished mine last year and it is the hardest year I have ever had. Like you, it felt like all I ever did was work, and by the time it got to the end of the year I was exhausted and struggling to drag myself over the finish line. But you have worked so hard and you deserve to do well and get through this. I have been seeing a uni counsellor all the way through my BSc, MSc, and am still seeing her now I'm doing my PhD. Even though my friends and family are really supportive, I doubt I would still be at uni without the support of my counsellor. Please go see one at your uni- they will understand (the one I see is practically a mind-reader), and it is one place where it really is okay to feel exactly how you feel without having to put a face on it or pretend otherwise. In addition, they can assist with practical stuff like coursework extensions and point you in the right direction for extra financial support if that would help (the uni I am at gives out non-repayable 'hardship' grants to people who are really struggling, especially those in their final year). Seeing a counsellor is not about being weak and accepting extensions is NOT giving in- you need to do whatever will make everything just that little bit more do-able for you right now. People do care and they do want to help. With respect to your work, I always did a timetable for myself, set little goals, and ticked them off as I went. You are so close now, just envision the end result and push yourself through it. I still set myself goals and when I go to the gym I pound along on the treadmill imagining what it will feel like when I achieve each goal. Sometimes it feels like I will never get there, but I always do in the end, and it always feels just as good as I imagine it will. Big hugs to you. KB