Is shock therapy my next step?

[OverLoaded]

Hi I'm having trouble collecting my thoughts and what to say. I'm in Alberta.

 

[shimmerz]

Alberta has a much better health care system than Ontario.

 

[anthony]

Wanting to be you again is a lot of hard, self work, after trauma. Therapists can't fix you like you want. You have to fix you. Therapists are a guide, nothing more, nothing less. Their job is to assist you in finding your problem and then providing solutions for you to try, finding one that sticks. You have to additionally put in some effort to find what sticks for your personality too.

Shock therapy -- not really a 21st century recommendation based on what is now known about the effects of trauma. Treatment resistant is normal for some with PTSD. I am treatment resistant -- apparently according to several psychiatrist experts for trauma. I improved myself probably 75% over the past 12 years of working on myself, from what I was with uncontrolled PTSD.

 

[judyanne]

No matter where you are at in life, do NOT do ECT treatments. You will be worse.

I kind of know what PTSD is, but if you are young, then eat right, exercise, - if you have a faith life, pray and open scripture daily. The Catholic church has a daily reading book and scripture will calm your mind. I am not trying to push religion on anyone, it's just what "helps" me for a few minutes.

I had ECT 20 years ago, and it has wrecked my life forever. But, any time of the day or night, no matter what condition my head is in - I can open and read the daily readings and for those 10 or 15 minutes, I am calm and there is a peace in it. The rest of my 24/7 is crap and I am a mental lunatic after ECT.

SO - if you try those tips, go by the food chain in eating, no smoking, little alcohol, maybe on occasion, like wine before dinner once a week, and exercise like biking, jogging, etc, then you should improve.

I am no doctor, but you can't rely on medicaitons. If you have a couple of close friends or a love relationship - then turn to them for enjoyment. Anyone's company you enjoy could help a lot.

Get outside if and when you can - fresh air 10 to 20 minutes even in winter is great for the immune system. If you have few friends, then buy a dog. A golden retriever will live to love you - but they are expensive.

Keep your personal hygiene up if possible of course.

God bless you - don't do ECT. They are THE most barbaric and it causes a life-long living HELL - not just for the person - for everyone. All family and I just can't tell you
what it does to a person. Constant screaming, crying, living in a shell of who you were - like a walking lobotomy. Only worse.

You can't love. And react to a hug, and jokes. Slits in my upper arms where they strap you down and a guard into your mouth that JOLTS the head! Causing the eyes and blood flow to all of the body to tense and curls your toes permanently.
Digestive system and tender internal organs can no longer function, b.m. is always painful and I have been not even a person since.

Take basic measures to improve your over all health as best you can, and no matter what faith you may be or may not be- reading the Bible is really good for your MIND!

 

[Sideways]

They are THE most barbaric and it causes a life-long living HELL - not just for the person - for everyone.

Different strokes for different folks.

I’ve had 2 full courses of different types of ECT. No lasting effect. At all. Given how depressed I was at the time? It was totally worth a try.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I’ve never had this done, nor would I. I do know someone that had it done and she’d never do it again. She now has memory loss and other issues with emotions, or lack there of....

 

[joeylittle]

I’ve had 2 full courses of different types of ECT. No lasting effect. At all. Given how depressed I was at the time? It was totally worth a try.

Do you mind sharing more about this? You can PM me, if you'd prefer...I don't think I've ever heard from someone who didn't have lasting negative effects.

 

[EveHarrington]

There’s a new-ish electromagnetic treatment out there. (Or something like this). I have a friend trying it now. I’d definitely try that over ECT.

I’ve known a few people who have done ECT. Horrible memory effects, and lasting issues with functioning.

Truly a last resort treatment.

 

[joeylittle]

There’s a new-ish electromagnetic treatment out there. (Or something like this).

Do you mean rTMS? I only ask because I’m already doing that. It does help me somewhat, but the effects aren’t especially long-lasting (for me).

ETA: I’m also starting to look into differences in ECT protocols, across different countries. @Sideways, I wonder how different things are in your hemisphere, re: ECT.

 

[Sideways]

Do you mind sharing more about this?

Yeah, no problem.

Both courses were 12 sessions (rather than 15) which I did as an inpatient. One was bilateral, the other was unilateral, although I couldn’t tell you what strength either was. It was also just before they started using ketamine as part of the treatment, which is apparently improving outcomes.

My sister had a lot of courses of ect, and then did maintenance ect for over a year, and she had massive memory issues as a result. So my pdoc was on the lookout for possible issues there. But my memory was only effected on the day of treatment - if I did anything on the day of an ect treatment, I didn’t have any memory of that day. But that’s just as likely to have been the anaesthetic.

Long term I have as good a recollection of those hospitalisations as the ones after and before. There’s been no noticeable impact on my memory of other life events comparing before and after the treatments.

I was trying it for depression - it was during a period that I was actively suicidal. We’d tried a lot of medication, and I consulted with the ect pro that did the treatments at the hospital where I was admitted. He said it was worth a try and, given I was actively suicidal, I agreed, as did my treating psych.

It didn’t make any lasting impact on my mood. There was always an option of trying another course at a different strength, but I would probably try TMS first if I was to become that suicidal again, just because 2 courses and no noticeable change would suggest that ect isn’t going to work for me, and because tms is a much less substantial treatment to undergo (in terms of anaesthetic and fasting etc).

Actually I’d say that the only thing I got out of it was learning that I found lying on a hospital bed in a room full of strangers pretty stressful. Other than that, it was an entirely unremarkable experience for me!

 

[EveHarrington]

Do you mean rTMS? I only ask because I’m already doing that. It does help me somewhat, but the...

That might be it!

I hope it’s long lasting for my friend. She’s really struggling right now and meds have given her no relief. I’m sorry it wasn’t long lasting for you. Hugs.

 

[shatter eyes]

Do you mean rTMS? I only ask because I’m already doing that. It does help me somewhat, but the...

I am on session 11 today rTMS.
Magnetic at 1hz over right front cortex. My treatment is for 20 sessions.

The nightmares have really changed themes away from car accident.