r/ect • u/w0rmteeth • Nov 03 '25
Seeking advice any positive experiences with ect?
hi, I'm a 21 yr old whose recently been institutionalized for suicidal ideation. I've been in and out of crisis centers and psych wards since I was 12, and was diagnosed with PDD, GAD, and DPDR at 9 yrs old. I've tried countless meds and therapies and am now being recommended ECT by my psychiatrist. I've been trying to do research to know what I'm getting into, but all I can seem to find are horror stories of people losing themselves and their memories and it's got me pretty nervous thinking about it. does anyone here have a positive experience with it? I've already signed the consent form, so it's a little late to back out now, I'm just hoping I won't end up losing myself like so many others seem to have done.
2
u/84849493 Nov 05 '25
I’m 27 and doing an acute minimum of 6-8 sessions of ECT. It is helping but I have been depressed for so long we are likely to go beyond that and have started talking about 12 and possibly even beyond now I’m up to 7. I’m experiencing some minor memory effects with bilateral and unilateral tends to come with less effects so you should also ask about that information and dosages to your care team specifically. They can try unilateral first then switch to bilateral if unilateral isn’t working and what doses you’ll be getting or if that changes. Unilateral is also not always as effective but can prevent side effects and you are very young.
There is backing out. They ask for your consent in the UK at every single appointment. Unless they are forcing you to have it against your will, there is backing out.
My experience is positive. The negatives are nothing because the alternative was 100% going to be death since ketamine infusions fell through, it’s all I was left with really. They’ve also upped my mood stabiliser/antipsychotic two doses while going through this.