Have you tried electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for bipolar disorder?

 How many are familiar with ECT treatments? How many are on maintenance ECT? Please share what you know with me...some experience.

Hello @Lisa2571‍, thank you for opening this discussion. I've moved it to our treatments group for more visibility.

If you haven't seen it yet, we published an article a few months ago on ECT that you may find helpful: What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? 

Hi everyone, have any of you undergone ECT to treat your bipolar disorder? If so, can you share about your experience? Has it helped you?
@Crystal0775‍ @mgreee918‍ @Berrtnayy‍ @carrie072‍ @justjet‍ @Lisa2571‍ @BabySavy‍ @Sarabelle97‍ @Cheriann63‍ @Cheriann63‍ @Suzang‍ @carebalo95‍ @Justy24‍ @shgreen‍ @Kimmie!‍ @Debioco57‍ @Houndawg‍ @Dwaters1001‍ @Dlcarranza‍ 

Feel free to share here!

Take care,
Courtney

Yes, I had ECT early on after a suicide attempt, worst experience of my life. I had 22 treatments instead of the recommended 12. If it weren’t for a friend stepping in, I believe the dr would have kept doing them. Turned me into a zombie for 3+ years, stole most of my memory which never came back, as well as my short term memory. It is an archaic treatment that should be banned. I would never subject my family or friends to such torture.

No I haven't had that treatment. I would not try it. So many horror stories that go with it. Scary stuff. I don't trust it.

I had ECT. I was inpatient and had numerous treatments. Idk how many. Then I had numerous out patient treatments. I guess I was severely depressed and suicidal. It did pull me out of the deep depression but I was still depressed. I have no recollection of that time period or being in the hospital. I do remember some of the out patient. It was very traumatic. It has taken away so much memory. I can’t remember most of my life. My daughter growing up. Short term memory shot. It’s a huge trade off I guess because I guess I’m not suicidal but at the time I went into the hospital I was in a relationship with a man and when I got out I was like a different person. We are not together now but he tells me that when he first kissed me I said it felt weird. I have no attraction to him and can’t imagine that I was even with him that way. It is life changing!