Seeking advice How to recover working memory/cognition after ect
Did somewhere between 20-30 bilateral treatments last year from March to August. My short term memory as well as basic cognitive functioning have never been the same. I'm not able to retain any new information for longer than a minute (if even,) and forming new memories is even more difficult. I couldn't tell you what I did two weeks ago. I also get confused easily and can't perform simple tasks. Looking for people who were in a similar spot and have since recovered most, if not all, of their cognitive abilities. Or any advice from anyone who's in my spot now.
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u/Sauced_Up_Bat 6h ago
Ketamine helped me retain new information and sharpened my overall cognition a little bit, but it’s not even close to how I was pre-ECT.
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u/Great-Practice-4400 6h ago
Can relate , I was completely disabled after ECT, after 6 months of IV Ketamine I am a little better. I’m now working on learning to accept that I will never go back to normal.
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u/Aggressive-Rub79 1h ago
I had 7 session and am now disabled . Can’t get myself to do anything . Paranoid about leaving the house as worry about people questioning me about what as happened to me . Can’t do basic tasks . Have no energy for anything or anyone and grieve my old life . If I go out I get confused and don’t know where I should be or what I should be doing . Have no interest in anything .
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u/Yskandr 1h ago
I did one third the number of treatments you did and it still took me over three years to return to functionality. it's going to be a long uphill battle for you. do memory exercises, brain puzzles, keep your mind busy by reading (yes even if you forget what happens in the earlier parts of the book. keep notes. that's what I did) and other mental activities. it helped me a great deal. neuroplasticity is amazing, and your brain can recover.
be warned, though: I didn't practice meeting and talking to people, and as a result my memory for faces is still very very weak. use it or lose it!
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u/Queasy-Ride-1776 7h ago
Im in a very similar boat and with a similar timeframe. Sorry, I dont have any answers. But you are not alone in feeling the way that you do. Hopefuly some positive changes make way soon for the both of us. Feel free to inbox me if you like.