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Stress/Anxiety/Insomnia/Memory Issues
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: Nov 25, 2020 | Replies (135)Comment receiving replies
ECT is along lived treatment for depression. I am a Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and did my thesis on ECT at major hospitals in Alabama. This treatment can be very effective IF provided by a knowledgeable MD. Depending on how many treatments are required, the side effects vary. The. Main side effect is short-term memory loss. It is not permanent and can be reduced with planned post treatment intervention. A simple schedule, a person available to help right after. Really know your treator. Do not believe myths, as with anything you need highly knowledgeable md and nurses. Some people get it in their psychiatrists office.
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@engelee
Thank you for your balanced perspective. My doctors, pcp, neurologist, pain specialist, therapist and psychiatrist, were all supportive of me getting ECT, and I was approved for it by the doctor at OHSU, and their social worker was helping me work out the logistics. OHSU is 160 miles away, quite a commute.
After a lot of effort, I became too overwhelmed by the logistics and just gave up.
That was around 10 years ago. I was in a deep, dark hole of depression - I was in that hole for a very long time, more than 5 years, then I sat on the edge of the hole for several more years. I still live not far from the hole.
I know for sure that stress, anxiety, insomnia, memory problems and depression can all be intertwined. They often feed on each other. At least they do for me. Insomnia isn't a problem, thankfully. My sleep doctor told me I need to sleep less and stop the long naps.
I haven't kept up with ECT. I suppose that there have been some changes in the decade since I considered doing it.
I'm thankful that there are people like you who care for people like me. I know that I'm alive and functional today because of the mental health professionals who have treated me over the past 15+ years. You are appreciated.
Jim