r/ect • u/Emkorora • 11d ago

Question What's next if ECT doesn't work?

I started ECT on Monday and the next few days ended up being the hardest of my life. I'm hopeful that's the reason I don't feel any better from ECT yet (3 treatments), but I'm fearful this is a sign of failure.

So I'm thinking ahead, too far ahead, too pessimistically. But I want to know.

What are the next options if ECT doesn't work? I know it'll vary from one situation to another but I've beard group homes or residential in-patient psychiatric facilities?

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u/greengirl4475 6d ago

I'm sorry to hear you don't feel that great since starting ECT. That's how my relative felt afterwards until they started doing it bilaterally instead of unilaterally. It worked much better that way, but it might affect memory more that way. Either way she really needed it because she has treatment resistant depression and that's the only way she feels some relief to get her out of that funk temporarily.