ECT??

Does ECT help with manageing major depression?  My doctor has suggested this type of treatment; but I am hesitant.  I have depression since childhood and have been on SSR's for many years but they don't seem to be holding me right now.  I am having trouble coping with daily life; I am having suicidal thoughts.  

[Autumn55]

Very sorry about your condition.  I am no doctor but I really believe you should do extensive research on ECT before you ever consider it.  My mother had it about 10 years ago.  It helped her at the time but had severe side effects.  Some people say the memory loss is only temporary and maybe it is for some.  However, my mother can't even remember who she is sometimes anymore.  She can't do anything she used to be able to do.  She started to have seizures which are proven to be caused by ECT.  She is an absolute mess and I feel after researching ECT that it has much to do with that.  I'm not trying to discourage you, you do what you feel you have to.  I just hope that you consider the bad along with the good.  And please try all other alternates before doing something this dirastic!!

[anonymous516]

DON'T DO IT! My grandmother had ect and she's still bipolar. It wont make your problems go away. She has issues with reading and numbers and processing them. If you don't care about killing off part of your brain, then do it...but if you still want to be able to perform other functions, then try to go a different route.

[amanda77rainbow]

I've seen people who were helped by ECT when nothing else could help them. But there ARE some serious side effects, including short-term memory loss. I have heard that the methods for administrating ECT have improved tremendously in recent years. I'd get a second opinion, though, before deciding. Depression makes decisions hard enough, and this is certainly not an easy decision to make. If you're in therapy, perhaps your therapist could be helpful in researching and thinking about this option.