Electroconvulsive Therapy Experiences - Experiences of Electroconvulsive Therapy

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

David: Here are some Electroconvulsive Therapy experiences, shared by our audience members:

RAH: I had six ECTs in April of 1, two bilateral. My relief from depression was less than one week. The memory loss is still very much a problem. I have lost two months totally and pieces of my life are gone. I still suffer from severe depression and, of course, I am badgered to get a recharge which I refuse. I can get off meds, I can't repair brain damage.

Tammy_72: I had five ECT treatments and they left me physically very ill, and made me much more depressed than I was before. I experienced aphasia and seizures after my treatments ended.

suzieq46: I had ECT and would advise against it, except as a last resort. Such memory is lost, that a doctor or lawyer could no longer practice.

npcarroll: I consider my experiences with ECT successful, even though I am still suffering from depression. I seem to be resistant to medications. I would like to try ECT maintenance and see what happens without drugs.

jonzbonz: I had ECT. Four treatments that were disastrous for me I lost memory for quite some time, I was confused for a long while, and my depression returned within a month.

jamtess: I had ECT treatments over a three week period and it didn't help the depression. Plus I had to deal with the bad headaches, confusion, memory loss and I returned home more of a mess than when I entered the hospital.

ladyshiloh: I had thirty plus ECT treatments many years ago and now suffer from frontal lobe epilepsy that has been directly related to the ECT I had.

suzieq46: Ladyshiloh, I believe that I did not have anything that disastrous happen, but I lost at least a third of my memory from life. We know so little about the brain, and to shock it, I believe, is a dangerous risk. Yet the doctors who perform it are really gung ho and make you feel guilty if you don't have it done.

(Read also HealthyPlace section of ECT Stories: Personal Stories of ECT)

David: Julaine, would you recommend shock therapy to others who might be suffering from treatment resistant depression, based on your experience with it?

Julaine: Yes, I would recommend considering ECT, however;

1. First the patient and family must be told the full facts.
2. It would be very helpful to ask exactly who might benefit from ECTs, or who might not, as effectively.
3. Those who suffer from disorders such as trauma or PTSD should especially ask specific questions.

David: Here are some more ECT experiences from the audience and some comments:

jonzbonz: Two years after I had unilateral ECT, I had a sub-arachnoid hemorrhage of my brain on that side. I suspect strongly that the ECT is responsible for the stroke I had.

npcarroll: I still suffer from quite a few side effects also. I have discovered over the years on how to work around them. Anything to allow me to feel, at least partially function, and last but not least, stop me from slipping back into that deep dark hole I was in, works for me.

RAH: I feel that I was ill informed about Electroconvulsive Therapy. Texas is the only state with a full consent form. The days prior to ECT are lost, so I have no idea what was presented to me and no one is talking. Informed consent is my crusade. If it works, I can't totally condemn it.

katey1: I too, have been on every medication out there, and nothing is working. For the past two years, I have gone through two trials of nine treatments. In the past eight months, I have had serious memory loss, and am still suicidal. In fact, I attempted again two weeks after the last treatment. I am still suicidal and nothing is helping. I am still on about five different medications, and I think about suicide daily. I am diagnosed with major depression and PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I really have given up all hope. I can't get rid of the pain.

suzieq46: Julaine, how much memory loss did you have?

Julaine: During the treatments with bilateral ECT, I had very severe mixed reality with unreality and could not remember much. However, the biggest portion was loss of recent memories and some of them have never returned, but although it took a few months, the important ones have.

David: How are you functioning now, Julaine?

Julaine: Wow, very well. I am a graduate student in counseling and a very enthusiastic mental health advocate. It helped bring about needed reforms in Florida's MH :).

David: One last question Julaine, are you concerned about your future mental health and the return of depression?

Julaine: To deny I am worried about the return of depression would be false, but on the other hand, I must press forward with hope and optimism :)

David: Thank you, Julaine, for being our guest tonight and for sharing your ECT experiences with us. And to those in the audience, thank you for coming and participating. I hope you found it helpful. We have very large Depression and Bipolar communities here at HealthyPlace.com. You will always find people interacting with various sites. Also, if you found our site beneficial, I hope you'll pass our URL around to others http://www.healthyplace.com.

Thank you again, Julaine.

Julaine: Thanks very much and to all: NEVER GIVE UP you are not your diagnosis :)

Disclaimer: We are not recommending or endorsing any of the suggestions of our guest. In fact, we strongly encourage you to talk over any therapies, remedies or suggestions with your doctor BEFORE you implement them or make any changes in your treatment.

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