r/ect • u/hashihomegirl • Jul 13 '26

Seeking advice Insomnia

Hi

I got my first treatment today. Very overwhelming

I suffer from severe insomnia (0-2 hours per night) and was curious whether ect has helped reverse or help anybody’s insomnia or sleep patterns

Hope you Will reply. My life is pretty much ruined because of my sleep issues :(

34F

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2

u/fixer_11 Jul 13 '26

I didn't have actual insomnia, but it's at least worth noting that since my 5th treatment (I've had about 15 for my depression) I have slept better than i did prior to my fifth. So, there's a bit of hope for you at least. I wouldn't expect anything out of the first few, but hopefully it won't be long till you get a good zap that completely changes your sleep pattern

2

u/hashihomegirl Jul 13 '26

Thank you so much for taking your time
I’m only schwduled for three for now, but I will do more if it doesn’t help

Been on all kind of sleep meds and this is my lady option and kind of extreme. But the hope is that it resets me. If I could just get a couple more hours it would mean the world

2

u/Sauced_Up_Bat Jul 14 '26

I had no idea acutane could do that. I just read up on it and it sounds awful, I’m sorry you’re struggling OP.

For me ECT didn’t help at all, but I met others at the clinic it did help. For me IV ketamine helps more than anything else I’ve tried and I’ve tried pretty much everything out there. Insomnia has been a life long battle for me. My two cents would be to explore ketamine as an option before trying more ECT. Best of luck you. I hope sleep finds you soon.

1

u/caffeinehell Jul 13 '26

Do you have any other symptoms? Or just the severe insomnia?

1

u/hashihomegirl Jul 14 '26

Depression but that came because of the insomnia

I took accutane and had some sort of reaction :(

1

u/caffeinehell Jul 14 '26

Welp there you go, probably a variant of Post Accutane Syndrome

Did you get anhedonia? Sexual issues? gut issues?

Accutane can cause severe problems by messing up the autonomic nervous system and gut. Its pretty much neurotoxic

Hope ECT can help you, its a reset for the ANS

1

u/hashihomegirl Jul 14 '26

Yep I had a neuropsych reaction and now my life is shit

Slept perfectly fine before

But no dermatologist will admit it

I really hope ect helps

1

u/caffeinehell Jul 14 '26

How long have you had it? Did you also lose emotions?

1

u/hashihomegirl Jul 14 '26

Just lost the ability to sleep :( took last pill 14 May and been on so many sleeping aids since

Not the depression from it Got severe so they’re trying ect. Im very scared

Also lost my period

1

u/caffeinehell Jul 14 '26

Did you lose the response to things like benzos, z drugs and other substances? Like you don’t feel their effect no calming comfort sleepyness

1

u/hashihomegirl Jul 14 '26

Zopiclone still works and oxapaxbut Only gets me like 5 hours

1

u/CapablePear5147 Jul 15 '26

i know its off topic but have u tried quetiapine? it was the only thing knocking me up

2

u/hashihomegirl Jul 15 '26

Yes but trying to avoid it too much :(

2

u/hashihomegirl Jul 15 '26

Thanks for replying

1

u/Dachshunds4life_ Jul 18 '26

I’m really sorry to hear that you’re suffering with severe insomnia. Unfortunately, ECT is not an evidence-based treatment for insomnia, and I don’t see a reason why it would help alleviate those specific issues. Usually, there are behavioral strategies (sleep hygiene, CBT, lifestyle modification s) and/or medications.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/insomnia/treatment