To tell my manager in our monthly catch up, I don't enjoy working on a particular meeting

[mabelandme1]

I have a project I have worked on the past two years, and it's the only one I really, really dislike. I find the clients incredibly difficult and I'm miserable all the time i'm working on it. Every other project I love working on, enjoy the project with the client etc. This one has killed my confidence and it's getting to the point I want to be taken off it next year.
How do I approach my manager with this?

Sorry, projects!

Is there scope to change projects because if so, you’ve done that one for years now and would like to try something else.

It’s a good idea to raise it. Twice in my career I’ve wanted to remove myself from a commission. I was honest about what I was finding difficult and asked that it be taken over by someone else within a certain time frame. I’d worked both commissions for over a year so knew I’d given it a good go. It was fine and a plan to hand it over to some else in a workable time frame was set. It was easier to work with them when I knew the end was in sight!

Can you ask for a chat about the schedule of work this autumn and into next year? Say that you don't feel you are the right fit with these clients and wonder if the project would work out better with someone else on board. You feel confident in all other projects and client connections, and would be happy to take on a new piece of work in its place but you think that particular project would benefit from a fresh eye and a different approach?

That sounds perfectly reasonable.

I’d approach your manager like this:
I’ve been working this project for x years but unlike all my other projects, I feel this working relationship is really struggling. I’ve tried x y z but it may be time for a change of person. Could I work with someone else to manage a handover?

Basically couching it as an opportunity for someone else who may be a better fit, and offering to support a handover, while reminding them that you’re not usually difficult and generally get along very well with clients.