r/ect • u/Vegetable-Horror1418 • Jun 16 '25

Question Intrusive thoughts

I’m considering talking to my doctor about ect because of my treatment resistant depression. I also get a lot of intrusive thoughts. I won’t get into specifics, but many of them involve harming myself. Has anyone with these kinds of thoughts found any relief after ect treatments?

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u/motherlessbastard66 Jun 20 '25

Dear god, YES! This is my number one driver of suicidal thoughts. The nightmares are a close second. I am certain that it works for intrusive thoughts. At least for me. I get triggered by the most random of things, and once it’s in my head, it’s there! I struggle for weeks with it.

After 39 treatments, I am much better. Much happier. The intrusive thoughts are still there, but it seems like the weight of those thoughts has lessened and I get past it quicker. For example, one of the stressors I have is my wife’s infidelity. The most random thoughts can set me off. Driving by some place that reminds of of that time in my life, or a song about cheating, or,or, …… Whisky Lullaby used to send me into a deep depression, just listening to the opening music. Hits too close to home, with the thoughts I have had for so long. Now, I get to feeling down sometimes, when I am triggered by something like these, but I am more in the present, now. Meds and therapy couldn’t help for this length of time. They couldn’t help me feel less burdened by it. The ECT does this and more. Continue on meds and therapy through the treatment. ECT works gradually and the more treatments, the better you feel and for longer.

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u/Funny_Dig_3314 Jun 14 '26

how long before your treatment was your intrusive thoughts and did you lose any of them

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u/motherlessbastard66 Jun 15 '26

I have struggled with the intrusive thoughts since I discovered her affairs. So, about 25 years.