I am seriously thinking about ECT. Anyone had it?

[Maraya1969]

My friend in NJ had it last year and she thinks it helped her a great deal. Actually everyone I know that has had it has said it was great. I never thought I was bad enough to get it.

But now that I am still fighting depression for about a year I am at the point of wanting to try it. I just can't get off my ass and I feel so low sometimes. I swear this has a lot to do with getting divorced and losing most of my friends. I am so isolated now. I like it for a long time but now I can't stand the aloneness yet I don't want to go out and talk to people.

I was never like this for this length of time and I always had friends that I would call or hang out with...if even to just complain to. I just started eye movement desensitization to treat what I realized is PTSD from my jack ass bat shit crazy ex husband.

I still can't stand the fact that I live in the same town as that man.

I've been on psy meds for most of my life.

[hedgehog]

1. Try reading Margaret Mannning' s "Undercurrents" for a description

of modern ECT.

[Maraya1969]

2. Thanks Hegdhog. And thanks for replying. I was begining to think no one cared.

I realize that people respond when they have an answer though so I wasn't that upset but I was VERY glad when I check MY DU and saw a reply!

:hug:

I'm going to call the library tomorrow to see if they have it or can order it.

[hedgehog]

3. We all care, I suspect that no one has any direct experience.

Good Luck!

[hunter]

4. I know people who tell me it's worked for them.

It is almost always better to try things like this than to come up with some reason not to.

Simply trying something new like this gets you out and about and talking to people, which is what you want to do.

Good Luck!

[Maraya1969]

5. Thanks Hunter!

I feel much better today. This thing comes and goes. :hug:

[EFerrari]

6. I'm right there with you.

I don't know about you, but I was also just TIRED. I'm never very good at taking care of me when I'm tired. I worry too much, even in my sleep and who wants to reach out when your hands feel empty?

As time rolls on, there are more windows that open up. They are sometimes sunny ones and every now and then, there's a great ocean breeze.

I've never had this experience either and I think of it as my Very Own Moon Walk. But the rules I've learned still really do apply. I try to be as understanding of me as I try to be of anyone else. I try to mark each step taken in a positive direction. I try to find ways not to dwell on the painfulness -- just as I did when in labor with my boys. Try to find things outside to focus on even if it's just the ravens hatching and populating the beach at this time of year. Hey -- this is basically pain management and finding things on the outside of that pain helps.

Don't remember when I did this, but hold a very neutral image of a ripe orange to focus on when things get overwhelming. It's hard for an ORANGE to morph into a worry. :)

Some days go better than others but there's a definite positive trend. It just takes a lot of patience and some days there seem to be more patience units than others.

It gets better. Take good care.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[Ladyhawk]

7. I had it in 2000.

PM me if you want to know details.

[shrike]

8. A Duer named Lorien posted on it some years ago

If you want to dig through the archives, you should be able to find the thread.
It seemed to be a very positive experience for her. I remember seeing something on the news about it: nothing like the old "shock treatment," and it seems to help those who don't respond to medication or anything else.
Good luck: few things suck worse than depression. I had it many, many years (sort of like having a low-grade fever, which would flare up into full-blown episodes, occasionally) until I was diagnosed.

P.S. I also seem to remember it was covered by insurance.