Quote:
Originally Posted by BJ
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.
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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
11-04-2008, 10:37 PM
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