That's what a Master's student said to me a couple of days ago.
He said that, as he was working on his thesis, he was thinking about what might come next. But when he talked to the PhD students who were ahead of him on the academic ladder, he realized what horrendous experiences they were having.
Noxious is a good word to describe the experiences of many doctoral candidates. I hear about them daily. The environment in some graduate schools is truly poisonous.
And it's not necessarily the fault of the professors, but rather of the system that puts stress on everyone. Unfortunately, many schools are using processes that were developed hundreds of years ago. The word archaic only barely begins to describe it.
However, of course, there are programs that are enlightened, progressive and responsive to the changing times. There is a lot of support provided for candidates, they are treated as respected younger colleagues, and their work is appreciated.
So if you're about to start a doctoral program, look for one of those programs. Choose a supervisor who is kind and considerate, and who believes in your research. Read the graduate school manual and scour the website, and if the rules are obsolete, keep looking for a different program.
In most cases, you'll be spending five or six years (at least) working on your doctorale. The averages is actually eight by some measures. Don't get stuck in the slough of despondency for all that time.
PhD students should be having fun. If you're one, you may not have been told that before. But research should be enjoyable, exciting, and rewarding. You should come away from the journey feeling proud, satisfied, and energized to continue your studies.
So, if you're not feeling that way, get out of that noxious environment. You deserve better.