ECT an option?

[janey50]

Hi guys. It's been suggested that the next route for me is ECT. I'd be glad to hear from anyone who has experienced this and found it helped. I don't want to put myself through it if there's not going to be an improvement. At the moment I am suffering dreadfully with anxiety and depression, and nothing seems to be helping. Big strain on the whole family, and I've lost the will to live. Encouraging stories would be helpful. Thaks everyone, Janey.

[Lila]

Hi Janey,

I have not had ECT but I know people who have and I have seen it being done. These people were very treatment resistant and had tried numerous medications to no effect. If you have tried many medications and they have not worked for you then ECT may be a good choice. I would recommend you talk to someone at the hospital it will be done at. They usually have a nurse specialist available to talk to patients before you make your mind up about the treatments. You should be able to bring a family member with you so everyone is in the loop and knows what to expect during and after. That will help you decide if this is the right choice for you.

I would suggest you look into your options and talk about it to your Dr/nurse/family. Your well being is their priority, so talking is key.

Take good care and best of luck in finding a treatment that works for you.

[Bill]

They say that ECT is supposed to help with severe depression which often has no connection with any form of anxiety in a person but I've also heard that it's not just a case of one course of ECT treatment but also regular follow up courses.

I was given just one ECT treatment as it was the last resort after all medications had failed. Only after the ECT treatment did they agree that I wasn't suffering from depression but it was actually anxiety.

Had I of known what happens when they give you ECT, I would never hav agreed to it. All I can remember of it was a terrible shooting pain in my arm when they gave me the injection before I blacked out before waking with a splitting headache.......so no, never again!

I'm sorry if that causes you any upset but I feel you should be made aware by sharing my experience.

I've read that you suffer from monophobia. Is there no charity or voluntary care group in your area who could provide you with a befriender when you're left on your own or who could take you out?

Also, if you haven't already, I would try to get DLA so that you could then apply for a support worker to keep you company. There is a scheme called Direct Payments where you can employ your own helpers with the finances that social services can offer.

I'm sorry but I just feel that your depression is being caused by your anxiety and that there are safer and better ways to treat your anxiety than to let them use ECT on you.

I would only say use it as a last resort if someone suffered pure depression and was suicidal because personally, I think this form of treatment in this modern age is just barbaric and I don't want you to suffer as I did unless there's absolutely no other course of action, and not just because they can't provide the support and therapy you Really need.

[janey50]

Bill, thanks for very sound input. I too think any depression is secondary to anxiety, which is overwhelming so I get terribly tired and depressed from being on edge all the time. i actually couldn't cope with having to go to the hospital twice a week, even with my husband taking me there - I am so agoraphobic it would freak me out. I have a Mind Befriender but it's not been a very fruitful relationship really, in that I am so consumed with anxiety that I can't make the most of the contact - initially we took the dofg for a walk together but I couldn't do that now, or I should say, at the moment. i keep hoping I will feel better one day but at the moment I just feel worse and worse. i read your posts so i think you know what it feels like. The strain on my husband is terrible - he is so depressed I'm really worried about him, and all i can think is that going into hosp might give him a break but however many times they mention it, it never seems to come to that point and I don't treally want to be away from home where I can distract myself a tiny bit with the garden etc. Lithium is the other treatment option which I am quite in favour of as my niece has been on it for a long time and has kept really well. SO - do you think ECT is not much good for anxiety at all? My heart went out to you when I found your posts on here yesterday because I know just how awful you must feel. It's just a question of killing time for me - i have no sense of purpose or hope and that is killing. I do so hope you are getting better. tell me if there's anything that helped you to turn the corner. Thanks again for your input. Janey

[janey50]

Bill again - I forgot to write that I am waiting for an answer on DLA and had intended to put it towards therapy in one form or another, so your suggestion is welcome - provided I get it. BUt how to find a PA who understands that level of anxiety and can intervene in some way? I know really it's down to me but I am in such a thicket of drugs and drug dependence that I can't see the wood for the trees and keep waiting for a magic solution which just isn't going to come.Did you ever try Lithium? Janey

[london]

a friend of mine had it for depression it was the best thing to happen he said

[Bill]

As you say London, yes, I have heard that ECT can work for someone who just suffers from depression but I'm just not so sure when the depressed state is being caused by anxiety because when we suffer from anxiety, it means we're living in fear of something so once the fear is confronted and conquered, the depressed state lifts too and I can't see how an electric shock can cure a fear.

Janey, as you say it's because you feel so trapped in the house that makes you feel so depressed but once you feel able to be free, your depressed state will lift.

You say about not making the most of your Mind befriender - would you still feel afraid if you went for a drive with them without actually getting out of the car? Also, if they visited and you stayed in or even just went in the garden, wouldn't that be better than nothing? Sometimes we need to take small steps without feeling we need to confront our fear head on by doing too much straightaway. Try setting your sights lower and build more gradually. Take some of the pressure off yourself.

Janey, I'm sure your husband is only depressed because he's so worried about you and wants you to get better. Have you suggested to him if he would be prepared to take you out if he doesn't already? Maybe he's feeling helpless? I'm also sure he'd rather have you by him than the worry of you in hospital.

For me, ECT had no effect but I only had it once but also as I've said, I'm not so sure it's effective for anxiety. I really feel that there are better ways that would help you Janey.

I've never tried Lithium but I did get addicted to diazepam and also tried various modern ad's. I haven't needed to take anything now though for a number of years.

I wouldn't worry about finding a PA who knows everything about anxiety. Someone who is a PA will be someon who cares so just explain to them how anxiety makes you feel. They can always read up about anxiety and get advice on how to help you but just having someone there to make you feel more secure would be help in itself.

For me, turning the corner was changing my lifestyle by tackling the pressures that made me feel so ill and adopting a new way of thinking by taking a more "care free" attitude to my fears. I'm not saying I'm well but I cope ok.

Ask yourself what you're afraid of if you go out. Is it of suffering a panic attack and collapsing perhaps? Then ask yourself what would actually happen if you did and what is there actually to be afraid of especially if someone is there to protect you and keep you safe?

In the past, before I went to work, I'd be thinking to myself "what if" I feel panicky and "what if" I need the loo because I used to have a terrible toilet phobia too! This way of thinking because these things scared me so much would actually make me panicky and make me want the loo!

These days I'm not worried about panics or the loo so I don't even think about panics or needing a loo and so the panics don't happen and nor do I need a loo! That's my different way of thinking.

I know it's easy to say but when we have a fear and we feel alone with it, the fear can feel all consuming but with a little support by our side together with determination and positive thinking, it IS possible to free ourselves but it just takes time .