NeuroTalk Support Groups - Wow I am now scared

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BJ (Post 402349)

I really think this thread should have a trigger icon on it. But it's too late.

On the face of it, ECT does sound bizarre doesn’t it? Who would have ever thought that this was a sensible way to treat a mental disorder? But remember the advances that have been made in medicine. This is not One Flew over the Cuckoo Nest. Yes they make you have a seizure but it’s a controlled seizure and with the muscle relaxers they give you it’s like a twitch. And you’re sound asleep through the whole thing. Sure something’s going on because you hurt like heck the day of treatment but it’s all controlled.

Many doctors believe that severe depression is caused by problems with certain brain chemicals. My pdoc told me ECT causes the release of these chemicals and, probably more importantly, makes the chemicals more likely to work and so help recovery. It’s even been said that ECT can stimulate the growth of new blood vessels in certain areas of the brain.

Why would anyone want to have this treatment? It’s simple:

several medications have been tried but have not helped
the side-effects of antidepressants are too severe or you can’t take them like I can’t
your life is in danger because you are not eating or drinking enough
you are trying to kill yourself

It is used for people with severe illness who are very unwell and whose life may be in danger. As with any treatment, ECT can cause a number of side-effects. Some difficulties with memory are probably present in everyone receiving ECT. Yes my memory is not good and I have lost some skills but I’m alive.

Depression can for some people be very severe and life-threatening, with extreme withdrawal and reluctance, or inability to eat, drink or communicate properly. Occasionally people may also develop strange ideas (delusions) about themselves or others.

I’ve had ECTs twice and they’ve saved my life. Maybe it was the last resort but it’s gotten me through the rough patches.

Keep in mind that 15% of people with severe depression will kill themselves eventually, and doctors feel that ECT has saved patients' lives, and so that the overall benefits are greater than the risks. It’s not barbaric, inhumane or immoral and I’m not going to let this upset me because it saved my life and I'm not ashamed either.

Thanks for letting me know. I do not quite understand the trigger icon is for. But I do not mean to make it sounds so horrible. It is just I am new to all of this and I never knew about it before and because I have never heard of it before my brain (which is sick btw) causes me to be afraid of this. And my brain right away thinks it is wrong and stuff. But like I said before I am totally new to all of this. I have never knew this existed. This is a whole new world for me.
So if I have offended anyone on this thread I hope you all forgive me.
But to hear you talk about how you have benefit from an ECT is now less frightening. It has saved your life so it can not be all that bad either. My mom gets cortizone shots in her back every few weeks. She hurts like hecks days after the shots. But then days after she is healed from the shots and the meds start working she feels way better! My mom was very afraid of the shots. Perhaps it is considered normal for someone like me to be afraid of a lot of things.

Sharla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellowfever (Post 402454)

Oh no! You have not offended anyone. You have not done anything wrong,and It's good to talk about these things. You should see some of the things that I've written. I've spilled the beans.LOL

That trigger is for anyone who is very sensitive at this time,or sensitive to certain content,to let them know that the content that they are reading is more then they might be able to handle right now.

You did nothing wrong. Keep posting Fevah. We love ya. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Bj, dear girlie,
I am so glad that the ect treatments saved your life.
Look at what amazing work you are doing....
this is hard work and you are worthy of this work.
You also get to decide how you live your life...
it is your body.
((((HUGS and love))))
bizi

DITTO ...................to bizi's post!!!!

:You-Rock: Niikko:hug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend (Post 402478)

Oh ok! Thank goodness. I will from now on pay better attention. LOL I am glad everything is ok :)

Sharla

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellowfever (Post 402723)

Oh ok! Thank goodness. I will from now on pay better attention. LOL I am glad everything is ok :)

Sharla

Your fine. Nothing to worry about at all. LOL You can keep asking questions,and talk about whats bothering you here. That's what this forum is for. BF:hug::hug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend (Post 403012)

Your fine. Nothing to worry about at all. LOL You can keep asking questions,and talk about whats bothering you here. That's what this forum is for. BF:hug::hug:

I am so glad I can talk to you all like this.
It is really hard to keep it all in. I explode when I do and it sucks!

sharla

I know what you mean. This forum is very helpful. Thank goodness that it's here. It's a good support system. BF:hug::hug:

My Doc is exasperated, running out of options to treat my depression and practically insisting on ECT, so I'm trying to FIGURE OUT what I think about it. Changing Psychiatrists is not as easy as it sounds in a small town, when you have a phobia about driving to a big town! So if I decide not to follow his recommendations long enough, and he opts not to treat me for this reason, I'm . . . up a creek without a boat TO paddle. billie:eek::eek:

To Yellowfever Re Churches and Apparitions

Who knows what causes these things. I guess that's why they have a book call Psychosis and Spirituality where numerous pdocs and similar experts debate these issues. I liked Mari's explanation of sleep paralysis and have, in fact, had various forms of this. I just changed churches to avoid having a complete nervous breakdown for reasons similar to those you cite. Bless you and keep on doing what's good for you. billie