Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on May 31, 2007, at 10:02:49
In reply to Re: What have I got to lose by having ECT » deniseuk190466, posted by Phillipa on May 30, 2007, at 15:31:09
denise,
I think that you have a lot to lose by placing all your eggs in one basket. Regardless of whether that basket is psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, alternative treatments, ECT.There is good empirical evidence that a combination of therapy and medication helps more than either alone at treating and preventing recurrance of depression.
I'm sorry that I don't know much about your case. Have you tried therapy? For how long? How was your relationship with your therapist?
The reason why I suggest therapy is because a good therapeutic relationship can help you understand what your strengths are (I bet you have a lot of strengths, since you write well, and said that you are working. If you're considering ECT, you certainly deserve to give therapy a really good chance. If for nothing else, a therapist can help you understand your reasons for considering ECT, and help you figure out for yourself what you motivations (conscious and unconscious) are.
ECT has worked wonders for many people who are otherwise incapacitated. It is a fairly extreme treatment, however, and carries risks. Memory loss seems like 2 words until you spend some time with someone who doesn't recognize you 30 minutes after having a lengthy conversation with you. Until you are driving and forget what your errands were. Until your boss tells you to do 3 things and you can barely remember one of them.
I'm not anti-ECT. I just had the opportunity to spend several days with a woman who was having the procedure. She still seemed like herself, but couldn't remember me at all. (I had to show her a picture that she had drawn and signed of me- very cute, by the way)
Or a very educated scientist, who couldn't even remember some of the basic aspects of his own research. A year after his procedure I spent an evening with him and some friends, and he remembered some of them, didn't remember me (no sweat) but after a long conversation, he didn't remember me the next day either, and was constantly complaining about how his memory was shot to hell.
I would urge you to get all the opinions you can- interview patients, or get to know them online. Get in touch with a psychologist, or see someone who has seen you in the past. Get your pdoc and GP on board. You will need ALL of these people to help support you both BEFORE and AFTER the procedure. Better get it together before you have ECT.
And whatever you decide, I hope that it is an educated, considered decision. ECT has saved lives, and you deserve to have the richest life you can. You're going to need a real team effort to help you, though.
Psychobabble can be part of the team, though
happy thursday :)
sorry if I'm too tough on you. I just don't want you to get hurt.
-Ll
poster:LlurpsieNoodle
thread:760391
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070524/msgs/760526.html