ECT. Electroconvulsive Therapy. Electroshock Therapy. Shock Therapy.
It doesn't matter what you call it, it's still the same thing.
An electric current is sent to the brain causing a grand-mal seizure for about 20 seconds.
It's used to treat various illnesses: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders....
How does it work? Why does it work? Doctors aren't sure. But doctors also prescribe patients with anti-seizure medication and call them "mood stabilizers" as well. Because they work.
ECT can work.
And so I'm considering it.
I'm at the end of feeling like this and need something drastic.
Dr. M in an hour and a half. He'll sit there and smile and me and tell me to "Have hope..." He'll ask me why I stopped taking the Trileptal. "Because it was making my suicidal thoughts more vivid. More real. More in the planning stages. You dumbass, didn't you get my message yesterday?"
Oh yes. Dr. M will get a dose of Pam at her absolute worst today.
I'm done playing wiffle ball. It's time for a real bat.
Dr Oz had a show on this a couple of weeks ago and there has been significant changes in ppl fo the better who have had this done.. They said the only side effect is temporary memory loss..
ReplyDeleteI really, truly hope he helps you. Supports you doing something serious to help.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the meds. They make things worse. However ECT is not a good option.
ReplyDeleteECT gives permanent brain damage. The effect is due to concussion. A temporary euphoria which fades after 4 - 6 weeks and the patient goes back to how they were plus they now have brain damage. People can forget their education and many years of their past life. They can have cognitive deficits and be unable to make new memories. ECT machines have never been tested for safety on humans. Unfortunately they are big business which is why psychiatrists are lobbying the FDA to relegate the machines from class III to class II so they don't have to be tested. The FDA are being pressurised by congress to do one or the other.
http://www.breggin.com/
click on ECT tab
http://www.professionalsagainstect.com/interviewspresentations.html
watch video
http://www.mindfreedom.org/kb/mental-health-abuse/electroshock/ect-review-2010-read-bentall.pdf/view?searchterm=ect
Read and Bentall’s study of ECT safety and efficacy
http://www.professionalsagainstect.com/resources.html
see Harold Sackeim study
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/16278
UK Government e-petition
http://www.electricshocktherapy.info/
Australia
I have been where you are and I hope that you are able to find the help you need. **hugs**
ReplyDeleteI hope that things are going well for you. I really do.
ReplyDeleteECT sounds like such an interesting treatment for bipolar. Definitely something to look into. I wanted to share another website http://onlineceucredit.com/edu/social-work-ceus-ba that offers information about bipolar treatment. It has some pretty good stuff on there for bipolar patients to check out.
ReplyDelete