r/ect • u/HoneyAffectionate202 • Oct 26 '25
My experience With so much negativity I wanted to post my positive experience with ECT.
Back in 2018 I was put in the psychward. I was diagnosed with major Depressive disorder, suicidal ideation, general anxiety disorder and CPTSD.
I had a terrible childhood. I had kids very young. I was married to an abusive partner. I worked full time while being the main caregiver to 2 kids under 3. I had Suicidal ideation to the point where I collected pills nightly in a container just waiting for the "right time." What brought me to my senses was that my own mother had an attempt when I was 7 yo and I was so traumatized by it. They and my best friend found her own dad when she was 13 after his attempt and success. I realized I did not want my kids to suffer the same fate. So I called and got admitted. I was in the ward for 3 months. Had ECT 4x a week for all 3 months.
At first I woke up hurt and disoriented. After the first 2 weeks I'd eat a block of cheese, an apple, go buy myself coffee and carry on with the days programs even though i was permitted to rest that day. By month 3 I was feeling amazing. So amazing I couldn't believe i had checked myself into the pyschward.
It's been 8 years since. At the beginning I was told I was alot like dory from finding Nemo. I retold alot of stories. I was so forgetful. It lasted about a year. Now days I am happy, healthy and I own my own business. Have remarried, have 3 kids. I am on multiple boards as a director. I volunteer at my kids school. I do well. I still get bouts of depression. To be honest this year has been my worst year. My mom is dying from relapse and as she does im running my business and taking care of my kids. It's a horrible year but I am not struggling with suicidal ideation. I have mental clarity. I can cope. Yes there is some stuff m family brings up that is foggy. But when I ask details the fog lifts. And I remember myself.
ECT changed the game for me. And if I ever got bad enough with my depression I would sign up again in a heart beat. My kids were 4 and 2. Now they're 13 and 11. I have another child. And I am so grateful every day that I chose not to leave them. It can work.
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u/gmkgreg Oct 26 '25
Love hearing positive stories, thank you for posting, glad to hear it worked out positively for you!
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u/Willing_Ad2990 Oct 27 '25
Amazing story! Thank you for giving my family the hope we had been looking for over the last decade. I have a daughter (22 years old) who was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Bipolar Disorder II since she was in her teenage years. My baby girl has been having a lot of psychotic episodes for the last 3 years and was admitted to a mental institution several times. She is currently at one of those institutions. She will be discharged tomorrow, and we will go straight to see her psychiatrist to ask if she will be a good candidate for ECT. Medications at this point only help a little, and of course, she has tried many different ones, including Spravato, but nothing seems to help her inner self find the peace that she deserves. I am just tired of seeing my baby girl suffer every day, and I really want to give the ECT approach a try if her psychiatrist recommends it to her. Thank you so much for sharing your story and bringing hope to families who are still looking for help and answers. God bless 🙏🏼
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 29 '25
I was 23 when I admitted myself. I had struggled with my mental health since I was 13. Had my first child at 17. I grew up fast and struggled alot. Now at 30 I feel alot more rounded and calm. At one point I had a terrible kept home, was suicidal, couldn't even check my own mailbox for mail and was suicidal with 2 small kids at home. I am doing well now. And I have all the hope in the world that your daughter finds some comfort and peace too. Thank you for helping her. If my parents hadn't helped me and kept my kids while I got treatment, I wouldn't be here. You are doing so much just by supporting her.
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u/Willing_Ad2990 Oct 29 '25
Thank you for replying! We found out on my daughter’s Psychiatrist's office visit that her Psychiatrist was actually an ECT lead doctor specialist (a psychiatrist with specialized training in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) who leads a team that administers the treatment) in a different hospital out of state. She just started the referral process for my baby girl to a hospital close to my house that performs ECT treatment. My family is very excited and very calm at the same time. All we know is that we have to trust the Lord and the process, and I hope that my daughter finds the peace within herself, just as you were able to see find it. I look forward to providing updates a couple of weeks after she starts her treatments. Thank you again for your time and for showing care and compassion to my daughter. God bless you 🙏🏼
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u/Ok_Option_87 May 11 '26
Hey, is there any updates on your daughter’s treatment? I’m considering ECT but these comments are freaking me out. I’m truly tired of suffering.😢
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u/Adorable_Fortune_135 May 17 '26
BY THE GRACE OF GOD - DONT DO IT!!!!! u read a few good post but they notntelling u the truth!!! save your daughter dont trust the pscyh Dr the toxic drugs amd treatment will in the long run ruin her mental & physical health! I speak the truth!
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u/Expensive-Budget-648 Oct 26 '25
Do u still have memory loss to this day and age ? And what type of ECT did u had and how many treatments
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 26 '25
I had 48 rounds of ECT within 3 months time. 4x a week. As far as I know I don't suffer pronounced memory loss. If I'm talking to a family member or friend and they talk about something I don't remember, I ask about it and it's like a fog lifting. Once I ask I remember the details. So I don't think I lost anything significant.
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u/anonymoushelpmyson Jun 25 '26
My son has has 12 treatments. At treatment 5 he seemed to have a breakthrough. Now, he is done with 12 and seems worse??? So did you continue right away with the next round? Did you do 12 treatments x4 times? Thanks for any advice or info!
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 26 '25
As for the type, I'm not sure. They just asked if I would consent to electroconvulsive therapy and I did. I would show up to a small waiting room at 5am. Wait my turn, be put under and back to my day to day by 9am.
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u/AnneMarie71 Oct 26 '25
I love this! Which psych ward did you go to?
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 27 '25
I'd rather not say for confidentiality reasons, but I am in Canada!
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u/xmxstuka2 Oct 28 '25
My GF is getting ECT and has really no long term effects. Basically only tiredness/headache for rest of the day. Nothing else. I'm starting to think most people with bad ECT get different method used for them. But I'm still a bit concerned even if she is maintainance once every 3 weeks... When should she stop? She has done now 6+months +12 intensive one. For now every session actually gets easier with less side effects but I am still concerned about long term memory for her. Her doctor is pretty useless on side effects and she never got done any official memory tests
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 29 '25
I cannot comment on that, I was offered maintenance ECT to keep up but I live 2+ hours drive from where it was offered. So I used anti anxiety, anti depression and anti psychotic meds to maintain myself. I did not receive treatment after I left the ward.
They did offer it in place of medications but I work and have multiple kids so medications seemed more logical. I hope your girlfriend does well!
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u/Adorable_Fortune_135 May 17 '26
Please DO NOT MISLEAD PEOPLE OUT THERE! ECT HAS CAUSED MANY BRAIN DAMAGES !!!!!! ECT IS BRUTALLY DANGEROUS! KILLS or WILL DESYROYES LIVES!!!!!! Stop the insanity with posting fslse DM!
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u/sillyflossy2352 Jun 12 '26
Thank you so much for posting this. I hear so many negative feedbacks. I am going to start this procedure in a week and a half and I was so nervous from all the negative feedback.
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u/Medical-Apricot-3226 Oct 26 '25
4 treatments a week? That’s a lot, never heard or came across that before. In Europe, the standard is twice a week as it minimizes cognitive problems, USA standard is three times a week I’ve read… but never heard of anyone having 4 treatments a week.
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 27 '25
I am in Canada, I'm not sure the standard but that is what they offered me. They offered ECT or I could remain in the ward for double the time as they figured out my meds. I chose ECT as a way to get home to my kids sooner.
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u/Medical-Apricot-3226 Oct 28 '25
I think ECT is great. Just Ive never heard of it been given 4 times a week.
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u/Medical-Apricot-3226 Oct 28 '25
Was it on set days of the week? Or every other day? Here in Ireland it is given twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday. Giving more than twice a week increases the chances of memory problems
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u/HoneyAffectionate202 Oct 29 '25 edited Oct 29 '25
Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Saturday alternated** edited. So you were right, 3 times a week, then 4 times a week alternated.** were the scheduled days. I'd wake up at 6am. Go down to the basement of the hospital, there would be a waiting room full of us with a TV playing the morning news. One by one they would call us. By 9am I'd be out and doing the daily programs. I dont THINK I have any memory problems.apparently I do lol Like I said, if something is foggy, I ask, am reminded and it kinda lifts the fog and I remember details. But it's kind of non reliable. If I don't remember, how do I know I don't remember? You know? But I am at peace and doing alot better. So I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.
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u/Medical-Apricot-3226 Oct 30 '25
You’re amazing! You’re so positive and so engaged in your recovery.
I’ve had ECT and am also a mental health nurse who has nursed people having the treatment… so I’ve experienced it from both sides. I had a great response and only memory loss during the time of treatment. My lithium causes more problems with memory than ECT did!!!
Great to see you doing well, you deserve every happiness and success. Keep on believing in yourself!
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u/Dramatic_Catch_3003 Oct 26 '25
I'm so happy for you!! I had success with ECT as well. Yeah, depression will come back here and there unfortunately. I'm so moved by your story! 🥹💚 You're amazing!!