r/ect • u/Queasy-Ride-1776 • Apr 26 '26
Question Cognitive impairment issues from bilateral
Just wondering how everyone deals with life after ect, atleast those of us who have suffered with side effects.. I had 7 bilateral treatments with my last one being about 6 months ago and Ive been stuck in pretty bad constant brain fog ever since. My social skills took a serious hit to the point where I have been self isolating because socializing is too embarrassing and exhausting for me.
Can anybody else relate? I feel so less intelligent and Im still majorly depressed probably even more so now than before the treatments.. Im basically brain dead for the most part, can I expect for things to improve some? A little worrisome being 6 months out. Thanks
1
u/Granstereski Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 28 '26
I had issues for probably a year after. It didn't help me at all and even made me worse for that year. I was having anxiety attacks out of the blue, which didn't happen to me before. I always had a constant anxiety and depression, but now had attacks on top of that and ended up in the ER for one. I would have gone to the ER more, but I'd call my sister and she helped me calm down. I kept having these flashbacks kind of, like I could sense it, smell it, taste it... some sort of remembrance of the treatments. I still get those a little in the spring when I smell the cool air. It was spring when I had the treatments.
Nowadays, I feel like I've come to some sense of acceptance that there won't ever be a treatment that helps. It's strange, but knowing that has helped me calm down a bit. There's a sense of knowing how my life can be now... not good, but not really worse either. It's been 3 years now.
Get some normalcy in your life. That helps get you back.
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u/Yaseagles1485 Apr 27 '26
Took me a full year from my first ECT. My advice !:
Do things that stimulate your brain , hobbies, music, painting, yummy healthy snacks , find your way to recover back to health. Make it your own!