I went into a hospital's Psychiatric Unit, at the end of September. I stayed in-patient for 8 days.
During this time, I went for several Electro-Convulsive Therapy treatments. In the past more primitive, less empathetic years, it was called "Shock Treatments" After I left the hospital, I went for a few more ECT treatments.
My experience with ECT leaves me confused, about how I think and feel about it. I believe that it has helped me, but I panicked in the end and quit. I am terrified of general anesthesia, and general anesthesia is a necessity with ECT. I have had serious problems with anesthesia, at another hospital during ECT, in the past. Consequently, I feared waking up during the treatment, or worse, dying from the treatment. My fears weren't totally rational. On the day of my 8th treatment, I broke down, and told the Medical Assistant, that I was sorry, but I was cancelling my appointment, because I was too scared.
ECT, can cause a loss of memory, also, and I lost a great amount. It's a disturbing feeling. You feel helpless, not being able to remember things. I had to be re-trained to do my office assistant job, which felt humiliating. Not everyone who gets ECT, has a memory loss problems. Everyone's experience is different. I would neither recommend nor disapprove of ECT, if you asked me my opinion.
I am going through medication changes, and I think that it has also helped me. My attitude, is getting better everyday. I'm starting to enjoy myself again. And I am thankful for all of the prayers that I have recieved.
