I totally get that sinking feeling. Before you assume the worst, it might be something simple like low fluid, but grinding usually points to deeper wear. It's funny, I was just reading a detailed guide that breaks down the difference between manual and automatic repair tips, and the consensus was that catching these sounds early is everything. With a manual, it could be the clutch disc or release bearing, which is a big job but straightforward. If ignored, that's when you risk metal fragments damaging the gearbox internals, turning a repair into a full replacement.