Have you ever had ECT(electric shock therapy)to treat your depression?did you or a loved one find it helpful?

Question

Susan suffers from a very bad major depression and has tried countless medications and therapy and none seem to be help and her Doctor suggest she try ECT.She is confused and scared to try..so others advise would be appreciated so Have you or a loved one ever had ECT(electric shock therapy)to treat your depression?did you or a loved one find it helpful?

PLEASE SERIOUS REPLIES ONLY!

Answer 1

I have suffered bipolar for 20 years now, and 8 years ago hit the worst depression of my life.  I, too, had tried about every antidepressant, therapy, light therapy, sleep deprivation therapy.  Nothing helped.  My doctor, who was the Chief of the Inpatient Dept. of Psych at a large local hospital,  suggested a course of ECT.  I was all scheduled to undergo the treatment when my family caught wind of it, and took me to their house and prevented my hospital admission.  I was too depressed to do anything about it.  So I spent the next 2 years depressed instead.  I wish I had had the treatments.

Answer 2

I have lived with chronic clinical depression all my life...I too have been on every medication in the book, seen multiple therapists as well.  I had ECT on three different occasions....it caused considerable short term memory loss, and some short lived ataxia, but it was effective in relieving my depression for about three months.  Never did it last longer than that, and after the third treatment I felt the results were not good enough compared to the side effects.

Now,however, I have learned some new self suggestion skills, and take DHEA and have not been on antidepressants for about a year.  I feel I am doing well.  I wish Susan luck with her issues.