Hi,

I'm new to this forum and I'm just hoping that someone might have some advice or have been in a similar position to one I've found myself in. I'm 9 months into my PhD and working on assays that my sup is unfamiliar with (I'm doing a lab based project). However, since I'm getting close to a deadline for a 1st year report I keep getting questioned about how valid my methods are - the problem with this being that I don't have anyone in my department to ask for help with this as there isn't anyone working on similar assays, and the more I am quizzed on it, the less confident I'm feeling that what I'm doing is right. In addition to this, I don't really have many friends around to turn to for support. I moved away from home for this PhD and I don't socialise with the people in my department (just different personalities I guess), and I feel like I've found it hard to bond with anyone that I've met since the move. What's more, I have a few long term health struggles that have really damaged my confidence in my ability to get work done, and my enthusiasm for everything is seriously lacking at the moment!

I guess the reason I'm posting is because for the past few months now I've been really struggling to get anything done and I feel like I'm constantly doubting myself, despite previously always being a good student and being successful at what I do. My sup is aware of these health issues but perhaps not completely aware of how they affect my productivity day to day. In terms of both the PhD and my life outside of it, I feel like I can't seem to make any progress anywhere and I just feel very low at the moment. I realise this probably just sounds like a rant but if there is anyone with any advice or who has just been through anything similar, any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks xx

Hi

I've been and I suppose I'm still am in a similar situation without luckily long term health struggles (my health plays tricks on me but there's nothing serious).

The advice I could give you relates to my own experience. I think you'll find the confidence you're looking for in yourself. It might sound cliché but a few months ago, I felt I was not making progress (I still feel the same but to a lesser extent), I lacked motivation, I felt my sup were not helping me the way I hoped they would do, I just had no sense of direction, I didn't know what to do and how, etc etc. I realised that noone will come and take my hand and sympathise with me and helped me in the way I wanted. I realised that time was passing by and I was moaning and moaning but it didn't change things. So I thought I had to do something MYSELF. I said to myself that I was wrong in waiting desperately for people to help me. The help had to come from me and only me. It was frustrating in a way as there's no miracle - there's just that realisation first and then with it, came the motivation and in my mind it was like, 'I will do it - time is not on my side, I have no choice, I will get things done'. Then I made a plan and I said I would stick to it. Instead of reading randomly, I said I would work in an orderly manner.

Also I have to say I listened to a lecturer a few weeks ago who was different from the other lecturers I had listened before. That woman was enthusiastic, dynamic and would boost you up. I talked to her and went to meet her. So I don't know if there's anyone you think of - it might be someone you've never met but who you know would understand your field and would be able to advise - make contact with that person. I was and still am greedy and thirsty of advice at the moment. Go and find the help where you think you might get it if the people around you might not inspire you. It doesn't mean your sup are not doing a good job - it might just be that at this point in time, right now when you're stuck, you probably need to speak to someone else. That someone else, you need to go and find him/her.

In the meantime trust yourself, believe that you can do it - make a plan on paper, set yourself small targets and stick to them.

Good luck, I hope it helps.

(up)

Hi Sega,

Thank you for your reply - it has really helped more than you know! In the last few weeks I've managed to track down a few people that work on similar assays that have been able to put my mind at ease about my work, and from there I've managed to regain momentum and I'm starting to get a lot more done. I feel like I've been much more productive recently, and I'm at least starting to question myself a little less, so thank you for your advice! I hope you're still managing to get through everything and that all is well with you too!

Thanks again,
Anxious :)