Livre d'Or

I totally agree with this article! I'm in my fifth year and am a mother of five (last one born in year four), professional author, going through a divorce, no child support, a 90 percent average, done my comps, placement, and have over 200 pages of edited copy of my dissertation. Besides all this, I'm in the middle of an enormous mental breakdown and have become an alcoholic in the last year. The pressures, lack of support, single mothering and expectations have done me in completely. I've currently joined AA, have an addictions counsellor, trauma counsellor and am starting a coping mechanism class while attempting to find a babysitter in a city where I know no one at all. I have no time or desire to work on my dissertation amidst the depression, anxiety, alcoholism and trying to regain my balance in the world. I was fine before I started my PhD, a successful non-drinker, who worked out and had friends (although leaving an abusive relationship). My funding is running out, I'm falling apart and I am a shadow of my former self mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I wish I never banked my future on a degree that ultimately did more harm than good. I do not know what to do!

Lesley