Anyone ever have ECT?

Question

So I went to the psychiatrist yesterday and thought I would get a medication adjustment. So instead of getting that my psychiatrist wanted to refer me for ECT. I heard about it before but never really considered it. She said it's come a long way from how they used to do it. I have until tomorrow to decide. I went online last night and flipped through the internet. She said the only side effect was temporary short term memory loss, but I read that others were permanent cognitive damage, long term memory loss, and something else I can't remember. A lot of people said that they had it and it only made their problems worse, others say that it helped a little. I'm scared because I don't want to end up in like the long term ward in a hospital. But I'm probably going to end up in residential treatment if I don't get better. I don't know where to turn.

Answer 1

I havent personally had ECT but I've been a trainee mental health nurse and studied about it and witnessed people having the procedure.

I can understand that you're scared and its going to create lots of scarey images in your mind, but your psychiatrist is telling the truth, its come a long way and is a really simple, quick procedure.

Yes, some people experience side effects like short term memory loss but think about it-most mental health drugs on the market have lots of serious potential side effects too. Your psychiatrist wouldnt have recommended it if he thought there was anything else that could help you, and I know ECT can pull people out of deep depression where meditation has failed.

Only you can make the decision, but trust me, you wouldnt end up in a hospital long term simply because of ECT.

I now suffer from depression myself and I know I'd be willing to give anything a try if there was hope. If this is your only option left before long term resedential treatment surely its worth giving it a go?

ECT is made up of several sessions so if you feel funny after one you dont have to have anymore.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 2

no I haven't

I like his site to read about medications

http://www.drugs.com/drug_information.ht...

good luck to you!