I'm aware that everyone is different and that the outcome can go from mild to severe.
If you have exhausted all your options and the depression has taken a turn towards the worst, would you do it. ECT, in many cases, is a longer treatment than most people think. Because the depression can come back (most do), patients need to do maintenance ECT every few weeks or monthly. When agreeing to this, the committment can range between 3 to 6 months of treatments.
I was in this situation just a few weeks ago and my doctor decided not to do ECT due to my health and concerns over my body being able to make it through the process. For me, agreeing to ECT was very difficult.
2007-09-29 15:33:33 · 6 answers · asked by byee77777 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Under no circumstances. I'd rather die first. If you've ever seen anyone who's had it and they can't even remember the people who they loved and saw just before they had and could not write their own names after having it - you might think twice. I'd never ever let anyone I cared about have it. You live with half your life wiped out - I don't call that an improvemnet in quality of life.
2007-09-30 06:33:39 · answer #1 · answered by Eye see! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If nothing else was working, I would do it. I would find it frightening, even though I know all about the procedure and how it is nothing like it was decades ago (that most people imagine it to still be). I have bipolar 2 and have had many serious episodes of depression. Often I have had to be one more than one antidepressant at a time. In the back of my mind, I always know there is the option of ECT if I need it. It's just not something I would want to have to go through. But if it was my only option left, I would do it because depression is sheer hell.
2007-09-29 20:07:39 · answer #2 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have seen, firsthand, the effects of someone just after the ECT treatment. I would not personally consider it. I suffer from depression, but would rather try the medication. Good luck in whatever you decide.
Mark
2007-09-29 15:38:29 · answer #3 · answered by Mark C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At the point I am with depression then no. But if I was really, really bad and wanted to die everyday, and nothing else worked then I would consider it, and go for it. That doesn't mean that I won't be frightened.
2007-09-29 22:33:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know if I would do this or not. If I was thinking of suicide after trying everything else, then maybe. I have known some people who have had this done. They seemed dulled to me. At least that is what I saw. Maybe this doesn't happen to everyone.
2007-09-29 15:39:24 · answer #5 · answered by Simmi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If nothing else works and I was desperate, I would do it. I understand that the procedure is much easier and safer than it used to be.
2007-09-29 15:41:31 · answer #6 · answered by notyou311 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋