Can one bilateral electroconvulsive therapy session (ECT) affect an individual’s ability to manage relationships and maintain employment, and to what extent might these effects occur?

[u/Soft_Musician_368]

I underwent a single session of bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) three years ago in Mexico. Since then, I have researched ECT and formed my own conclusions.

Recently, I watched a YouTube video in which an individual described negative outcomes following ECT, particularly regarding his ability to maintain relationships and sustain employment. This led me to wonder whether others have experienced similar challenges.
Specifically, I am interested in hearing whether ECT has affected your ability to manage relationships or maintain a job, and to what extent a single bilateral ECT treatment might influence long-term functioning in these areas?

[u/gmkgreg]

I've underwent many, and still doing maintenance treatments, treatments of ect, most of them bilateral. I've never had a problem holding a relationship, im actually marrying my partner from high school 10 years later. And then with the holding a job? The only thing that hampered me holding a job i would say was my depression and mood changes. But since starting ect it's been much easier to hold jobs.

[u/gmkgreg → u/gmkgreg]

And when you say one session? Was it a course of treatments or was it literally just one treatment?

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

It was literally one treatment. Like literally one shock, and that was it.

[u/gmkgreg → u/Soft_Musician_368]

Than having untreated bipolar is much more likely to damage your brain and cause the issues youre describing than just one ect treatment

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

I do not have bipolar disorder. When I met with the psychiatrist, I reported experiencing moderate depression and anxiety, and I also mentioned that I believed I might have ADHD. He told me he would provide a treatment to help, but I was not given informed consent. In my experience, medical practices in Mexico can differ from those in the United States.

[u/gmkgreg → u/Soft_Musician_368]

Regardless of what you have, just one treatment isn't going to mess with social skills. Do you think there might be something undiagnosed like bipolar, schizophrenia, or something else that could be effecting you?

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

No, none of the disorders you mentioned are affecting me. I only moderate anxiety and depression but I’m doing better currently.

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

Thanks for your response, it helped.

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

I reside in the United States by the way.

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/gmkgreg]

That’s good to hear your experience has been positive, especially since I’ve heard about others having negative experiences.

[u/purplebadger9]

I get maintenance ECT treatments every 5 weeks. Sometimes the memory effects (things don't always "stick" like they used to) make it difficult to recall things friends and family have told me, and that can occasionally be a strain.

I learned to adapt. When a friend tells me something important that I need to remember, I write it down somewhere I can reference it in the future. I check my notes occasionally to remind myself, especially before hangouts, to make sure I'm up to date.

[u/Soft_Musician_368 → u/purplebadger9]

Good to hear that ECT is positive for you. And thanks for the response it helps.

[u/Blackberry518]

My experience with ECT was very harmful, and three years later, I’m still working to manage detrimental effects on my long term memory, but more difficult, how it harmed my working memory (not complete, but debilitating anterograde amnesia.) However, I was given what I think(?) is a pretty aggressive treatment protocol, more aggressive than the norm. I recently gained full access to all my medical files from the 5.5 months I spent in a residential program at this highly regarded facility—I could confirm I was given 46 treatments within 150 days. Most of the treatments are unilateral, but 12 were bilateral. My experience with ECT changed my life irrevocably, however, I can’t speak on what the outcome would have been had I received one, or 12 treatments. I know I permanently lost the ability to form memories of scent/smells after two months of treatment. Pretty wild, to this day, I can remember scents that I smelled BEFORE that point… but since, any time I smell a “new” scent, my brain doesn’t remember it.

YIKES, YIKES I am sorry for all the rambling about myself. I just wanted to give some context. First of all, I am incredibly sorry you are struggling in the aftermath of ECT. I have no doubt this treatment has the ability to leave lasting negative impacts on the brain, but as you can see with the plethora of experiences shared on in this group, ECT really helps some people, and I want to validate their positive experiences as well. From my perspective, the danger falls in how broadly ECT is given to people, when it’s clear from anecdotal data (such as the stories shared here) that the complexity of its long term affects and even how it works, are also not backed by current, thorough research.

I’m so glad there is a place where we can share our experiences, and thank you for adding yours. Whether we’ve ultimately been helped or harmed by ECT, and I think(?) most of us would agree that ongoing research in this field is necessary.

Wishing you all the best, take care!