Has anyone here undergone ECT? My pdoc mentioned it a couple of months ago, and I’ve started reading up on it. Mostly, I am interested in it helping depression. I no longer leave my bed because I am so depressed. It is having an extreme effect on me and everyone in my life. I am seriously considering it, but I would love to hear from those who’ve had it. What did you get it for? How effective was it?
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Oh- I’d like to add that my not leaving bed has gone on for a year now. 
Have you considered an anti depressant ?
Or small, moderate doses of stimulants throughout the day ?
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I’ve tried both to no avail.
There are chances of you becoming brain dead off of ECT.
I dunno, I wouldn’t risk it.
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Do you have an article that discusses it? I’ve looked, but mostly what I’m finding is mild memory loss in the time leading up to the treatment (and in rare cases, loss of a couple of weeks that usually resolves itself), confusion, headache… that sort of thing.
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I’ve haven’t really looked at any articles, I just take my assumptions from The One That Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
That’s more old style ECT. A lot has changed since then.
I know, I know.
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Here, this article even mentions that movie: https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2017/02/ect.php
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Well, look,
I’ve battled depression. I cant say I overcame it but I’ve damn near improved over the years.
First of all, anyone who tells you to just get out of bed and do something is a total fck-face, ignore them.
Try to think of something that interests you. Maybe it’s getting a cup of coffee in the morning, or going for a drive, or playing a video game, or reading a book.
In my eyes, the cure for depression, more so the ability to manage it, is to build hobbies.
Try to find something that you enjoyed doing.
Like I said, even if it’s just a small thing like grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning.
Hope this helps, hang in there.
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I did ECT. The effects on depression are short lived and I had memory loss. 
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Try to note every username and password you use and bank numbers etc. before ECT, I had a friend in my ward that couldn’t remember his age for a few days. It was funny because he knew military codes and used to be a com guy as a soldier. They generally do it a few times for a week so you get accustomed to that state of ignorant bliss.
I would never agree to it and recommend you to do the same. It’s not much different than psychosurgery.
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I guess I just miss myself. I want to be whom I was a year and a half ago. I was up, active. Now I just sit here, depressed and feeling guilty over it. Nothing we’ve tried has overcome it. I just don’t know what to do.
@anon57786250 I have hobbies, but I usually can’t bother to participate in them.
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I was forced to have it. My memory has never recovered. For the weeks during the treatment I was like someone with dementia.
The treatment was about 12yrs ago and I’ve never been able to form new memories properly ever since.
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I agree. Hobbies really helps depression.
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Thanks for the info. I’m sorry that the treatment didn’t work for y’all. I read that it has a 70-90% success rate, so I’m admittedly surprised to hear such bad news. How depressing (no pun intended).
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I looked at the studies and most of them don’t have a control group. There are a few old ones with a ‘sham’ group (i.e. a group that have the anaesthetic and everything, but they just don’t turn on the electricity). Turns out there is no difference between pretending to do ECT and really having it.
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Thanks, @unbe. I really appreciate the info.
The psychiatrists will really talk down the brain injury it causes and really talk up the benefits.
If the most positive studies show that the antidepressant effect only lasts about 3 months
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