To this day, she has permanent memory loss specifically about times/events/things related to my sisters and me during our earlier childhoods. If she is still around Linda Chamberlain ran a foster care program for pets who's owners were in the hospital for up to three mths with mental health problems. Dr Read describes previous research justifying the use of ECT as 'the lowest quality of any I have seen in my 40-year career', Coronation Street actor Beverley Callard has spoken of how she underwent electroconvulsive therapy to treat her clinical depression, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. She has PTSD and memory loss from these treatments. My identity as amnesia says it all. After the ketamine infusions didn't work, my psychiatrist recommended electroconvulsive therapy. She said: "I had the horror film image in the back of my head, but I didn't believe they would be treating me using this mediaeval technique. Its the creation of a concussion disguised as a treatment. Good, write that down too. Electroshock is not treatment. It is a form of brain damage and torture, and I hope that you will prevent anyone from allowing it, because once you do, it will become required and that many more people will suffer. ECT was first popularised in the 1930s as a treatment for depression. To get your hands on the latest mag, youll have to buy one from one of our vendors. With ECT, Ive defied suicide, living 14 lucky years beyond my attempts of 2001. But the Royal College of Psychiatrists said ECT offers "life-saving treatment" and should continue in severe cases. How is that even possible, since I didnt even know I had been damaged by shock? In other words I could have been somebody . Pat Butterfield was a special needs teacher who loved her job and family. It causes brain damage. Its humiliating to walk into a shop and tip your money out and say: Just take how much money you need, because I dont know how much to give you.. I had memory problems, trouble sleeping. I have the symptoms of a person with a traumatic brain injury. It is also functioning in everyday life that is effected. "On the basis of the clinical trial data, ECT should not be used for depressed individuals.". our lives are very much intertwined and i can't just up and leave. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? He says: Depression often reveals itself as tiredness. Your email address will not be published. And it is deplorable that treatment resistance, to psychotropic drugs known to have harmed and killed millions in recent decades, prescribed for made up and scientifically invalid diagnoses, is being used as a rationale for shock treatment. You get a short general anaesthetic so that you are completely unaware of the seizure, which is, in any case, almost imperceptible due to a muscle relaxant. It was supposed to be a last resort action to save me from being severely treatment resistant. Because my depression seemed untreatable with drug therapy, the doctor suggested ECTs. for whatever silly reason i decided to look to about.com for first hand accounts of ECT, and completely terrified myself (there was a lot of 'ECT RUINED MY LIFE' talk and 'ECT TOOK MY SISTER AWAY' however, about.com is also the garbage heap of informational sites, so i came here. On good days, I rarely think about what got me to where I am today. If ECT improves your mental health, the effects are usually felt quickly. Count me in. It is done to the most vulnerable like seniors in large numbers in most of the Western countries. I do not remember much about the 1980s or 1990s. And LOL! Nothing that causes epileptic seizures and erases your memory can be helpful. ECT was an horrific procedure with catastrophic results. (Never, ever shut up, either. He was instrumental in having that place closed down in 1992. Not only did the treatment not work and I am still severely depressed but, now I have this ECT trauma and its ever-lasting effects. Id have to write an entire article on the subject. But Ive talked to quite a few others who have had ECT, and they all experienced memory issues. Now, I used my brain, which still seemed intact, to write my first novel. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8 but my family told me that . But it would be electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in 2016 and 2017 that would ultimately set the 47-year-old on a path toward remission and back on the stage. I had left college with so many credits, but they were all specialized music classes, so I had to re-enter as a sophomore. I dedicated my first published book to my dads memory, and my second published book to the memory of my boyfriend. I had kept journals, which my shrinks had said were just girlish playthings. There are some who say it does, but do they really remember for sure? And I feel great! Life was worth living. Did I ruin my life? The people who are personal friends are really messed up and aware that its the electroshock treatment that caused them harm and depression., I have come to personally know individuals who have been harmed by this procedure for life (permanently)! ECT is a simple procedure, but many precautionary measures must be taken before the pulse of electricity can be given to produce the seizure. It happened to me. I believe she had a nervous break-down when she realized she had been conceived out of wedlock (back then that was a big deal.) It has been used intentionally abusively to torture people who are designated by psychiatric professionals as noncompliant. The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to treat depression should be immediately suspended, a study says. You wake up, a bit confused, and when that settles, youre done. I have hope for a lot of people though. It's used for treating depression, migraine, and OCD, among other conditions.. I thank you for a response. Later, I let myself think about it, knowing that the reason for my unease was that I, too, had undergone a similar number of ECT treatments. If brain damage is defined as memory loss persisting at least 6 months after the last ECT, findings range from 12% to 55%. One of the reasons they stopped keeping them is that they reveal the amazing difference between places in terms of the amount of the number of treatments that are given, he says. Oblivious to the science, oblivious to the victims. I crawled two years after and still face daily symptoms. And this is what a lot of ECT victims find, because you then get labelled with other diagnoses and your family are told you are just mad. I also talk in the book about a much more simple thing, which is that we live in a patriarchal society. Been such a sobbing, psychotic, raging maniac. It would be devastating to the public, and to many people who do not deserve this especially when you consider the absolute dearth of genuine informed consent in this country. i want to be loved how i love, seen in the light i . Rebecca Lawrence is a consultant psychiatrist, In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. Her sexuality clashed with a staunch catholic home., This so called treatment is horrendous. And I do not know if I will ever fully recover. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. And yes, there is no doubt the majority of people would recover or heal without being administered multiple traumatic electrical head injuries via shock. It is utter unscientific rubbish that should be banned. These doctors should be held criminally liable for their unethical practice of denying risk. At a time the FDA is looking into downgrading the classification for this device, I am sickened by the publication of yet another Huff post piece promoting this procedure, brain injury as treatment., by a person calling many of those who posted negative comments about ECT haters, loonies, Peter Breggin groupies, later calling some pathetic, in need of help, encouraged by others who fawned over her story and disparaged those weirdos and crazies. ECT permanently impairs memory and causes other long- term signs of mental dysfunction such as difficulties with concentration and new learning. For the record, AFTER my ECT, I complained that there seemed to be something wrong with my brain. ), Ive had numerous ECT treatments because I was deemed treatment resistant and now have to live with severe memory loss and cognitive impairment., I am signing this petition because I am still recovering from shock treatment that was done to me over forty years ago., Im signing because I know the horror of this disabling procedure., Three people we have known have been traumatized and damaged by this procedure, a woman who can no longer read because she cant remember the previous page, a father who can no longer think, remember or function enough to work and a 17 yr old who blames his parents for not protecting him when he was shocked with his parents consent., Im an electroshock survivour and have experienced the harm caused by it, as well as the lies to cover it up., I absolutely disagree that ECT is safe in any way. I think the reason theyre a bit loath to give the figures anymore is that it kind of shows that electric shock isnt some scientific procedure. For play slushies, choose a "flavor . Some who consider ECT worry about memory loss. Has relaxed me , stopped voices , and helped me wean off of psychotropics. Force never does. Humans have evolved brain functions that allow us to connect, despite our differences. . I protested the article, and the paper invited me to write an article about ECT. Knowing there is no treatment stronger than ECT and knowing it didn't work me makes me so hopeless. (modern), Until we have another better treatment that works rapidly, I think there will be a place for ECT., ecently I spoke with someone who had, in the past, been given a large number of. He told me I should teach myself to use a mouse. The FDA can not truly believe this type of treatment to humans or animals is ok? Certainly the Thorazine , the Halidol , and the Electric Shock delivered by force took a toll from me that I am most of the time in denial about . 12 to 16-ounce bags of frozen fruit. But I have felt the downsides of ECT, in a couple of ways, and I can see the dangers of being too reassuring about it. I think his role was called Monitor. Every day is a struggle for him to maintain amidst seemingly the simplest of things, which are to him, chaotic and unfamiliar, because he is constantly having to re-learn things that cannot be committed to memory. My father had suffered from a deep, intractable depression that wasn't responding to medication. From feeling entirely hopeless about the future, my mood lifted with each session. These posts are designed to serve as a public forum for a discussionbroadly speakingof psychiatry and its treatments. It has five years since the ect has been done. Ask yourself: Do you ever willingly seek to subject yourself to electrical voltage? Shock is not effective in relieving depression or anything else beyond the first few weeks after it happens, when the brain, having suffered an injury, is trying to repair itself and so it seems that the activity of the mind has changed. Recovery is possible and even to be expected foe those who have experienced mental health challenges, unfortunately shock treatment reduces the likelihood that an individual can recover while it permanently alters their personality., As survivor of this barbaric procedure, I cannot say I support this petition, no, I urge anyone who cares about their fellow human beings to sign. Since then he has had to relearn to brush his teeth, make a bed, run a bath, use a washing machine and wash his hands. I was saddened that I was able only a week or so ago to access her death announcement. No one ever talked to me about those four root causes, just the symptoms. So I got on all kind of psych drugs that made it hard to work and then I started losing jobs and failing out of grad school. The other problem is stigmatisation. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Ive spoken to many hundreds of survivors of electroshock who say its torture, not safe and effective treatment. Its cruel., Because my niece went through ECT and it caused her permanent brain damage. Those who claim "TMS ruined my life" complain of memory loss, cognitive impairment, and dizziness . This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Never. Please do not believe such nonsense. There are no goods and bads with ECT, no rights or wrongs. The Mind charity says ECT "can be an effective treatment" for people with severe depression, for whom no other treatment has worked. What is the difference between solitude and isolation? I noticed one particular damaged patient asking for help, suggestions, and assistance during the NIMH PostedApril 24, 2015 As his ECT regimine progressed he lost all knowledge of the start we had made. She was eventually prescribed morphine for pain relief. Hi Folks, After a bit of red tape mix-up, my comment is finally up there and visible. In a third of cases ECT is given without consent. I am a shell. It was like that for me. I have had courses over the years to treat psychotic depression, initially when I was pregnant with my first child, and most recently three years ago. I had lost quite a lot of my vocabulary. Subscription is just 4.99 a month, and all income from subscriptions goes to Big Issue North Trust and helps vendors in the North of England to make positive changes to their lives. For a dollar. In 1983, Beryl went to her GP's suffering from back pains. At least my Great-Aunt never had to take the neuroleptics that I did. We have all seen patients who are barely communicating transformed by even one or two treatments: eating and talking, and freed of the burden of suffering. A woman who was administered controversial electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is campaigning to ban the mental health treatment. Obviously the APA had sent out a broadcast email and most of the docs just pasted in this email without even changing it much at all. Its goal is to cause damage and make you forget. Simple. The mind seeks an answer or meaning in any experience. The treatment is still offered by South West London and St George's mental health trust (SWLStG), which covers Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth. I noted on Facebook that I am omitted from any mention when family friends sent condolences to the two brothers, again, omitting the absent sister as if she were dead. The Dr that performed this did not follow the protocol that was given by a University hospital ect specialist. After three suicide attempts, ECT provided a quick and clear path out of my depression. Shock therapy? It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Psychotherapy, DBT, exercise, meditation etc are much better,without memory loss or brain damage. I am now on SSDI due to brain damage. I have notes stuck all over my walls to remind me what to do. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Turn any day into Fair Day! I also had no bug problems, and hardly ever heard my neighbors. ECT can have side effects. My mom died last August. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Sign-up to receive our weekly newsletter and other periodic updates. I wasn't sure which thread to reply to so I just picked this one. Try, keep trying, and when you spill milk, laugh. This treatment should not be down-classified; it is dangerous., The shrinks electroshocked my dad for sexually abusing me. ECT could be helpful if you have stopped eating and drinking or looking after yourself due to severe depression. ECT ruined my life. Send me Or she may have wised up enough to keep them to herself so as not to get more ECT. This crap has been going on for to long.imagine being depressed and having no relief for five years..now I just feel everyone has given up and that includes my pyschiatrist. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. And treatment resistant blames the patient, not the treatment that has failed them., Am a victim of over 60 ECTs during a period of 3 years missing 4 years of my life, I dont appreciate that. "There is no evidence that ECT is effective for its target demographicolder women, or its target diagnostic groupseverely depressed people, or for suicidal people, people who have unsuccessfully tried other treatments first, involuntary patients, or children and adolescent", it says. "I was forced to have it under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act", ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------, Thousands receive electric shock treatment, Electric shock therapy 'not up to scratch', Friends Against Psychiatry: Ban Shock (US), ECT, its uses and effects, Salford Community Health Council, Pat Butterfield, founder of ECT Anonymous. The ECT method is also condemned because it has multiple side effects. Theyve seen movies or testimonials about brain damage, electricity, and high relapse rates. Another lingering misconception is ECT will change your personality. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Also, people become compliant and they dont go around telling the staff how they hate the F***ing hospital anymore. I feel I was used as guaranteed money for the hospital., My aunt nearly died having this device used on her., My father received a series of shock treatments. Eventually Cunliffe was referred to a neuropsychologist who diagnosed brain damage as a result of ECT. I survived that . I did, even though other folks told me I was nuts to do such a thing. Its not just one-way though; clinicians who dismiss or minimise adverse effects too glibly dont help either, and each provokes the other. This therapy needs to be stopped., Im signing because I was subjected to extensive shock treatment from 1996-2005 as a result of misdiagnosis. "I resisted for years because of its reputation, and the name of it was daunting: electro, and then you add convulsive to it I had these images of Jack Nicholson," Gulman said. I know from experience about its often miraculous effects on depression, and its downsides. He visited facilities and demanded to speak directly to patients, knowing that only patients would give him accurate information about the state of human rights at these places. I havent been able to work, and my husband has been responsible for almost everything in our household including the care for my daughter. (The Hersh Foundation will be announcing an exciting partnership with University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in May; stay tuned.) You no longer need to login or create an account on our site to comment. As doctors, we have a duty to explain, and patients have a right to knowledge and reassurance. Credit: Michigan Medicine Christina often struggled to get through the average day. Mad in America hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. I am AGAINST reclassifying shock. Its that simple, and theres your answer!, My husband lost so much of his life after receiving ECT when he was too sick to make an informed decision regarding consent. Nothing worked and I was still severely depressed and suicidal. Lisa Morrison moved to Northern Ireland from South Africa after she got married."I had my children in Northern Ireland, experienced some postnatal depression. Unless it is outlawed., ECT was given me without my familys consent when I became 18, at a time when I lacked capacity to know what I was signing for., I went into it with what I thought was informed consent. After the ECT she didnt hang out or talk to anyone. I had no trouble in the class. Ect ruined my life. Very rarely, people may experience prolonged seizures. So nice to wax eloquent on something you have never endured. Its about time that the harmed peoples stories were listened to and we got rehabilitation and support., Photo: former writer Luff was bed-ridden for four years. This means that there is still a small window of time for you to sign the petition and leave a comment. No educational degree could possibly give a human being the status of a god, nor the right to determine who is worthy of life and which lives ones among us should be snuffed out. ..its hard to say anything to him because he ordered the ECT .he says 25 percent of his patients are stuck in a depressionhmmm he must suck as a doctor !! But the experience itself was, for me, very easy. "Virtually my whole life has been seriously affected by the ECT treatment. At one point she was taking almost 60 different pills per day, with little to no My idea was to learn this cool thing called email, and have email pals. Leave it to psychiatry to promote brain damage as a mental health benefit.. These are people who found ECT worth the risk, and their lives have flourished with good medical treatment and continued care. This journal article from Dr. Alan E. Brooker . She is a person who has made great contributions to supporting the mental health systems change in our area. He went from an uber intelligent man to one who was just never the same., I was an ECT treatment recipient and theres no way I would down-classify this procedure because Ive had lasting cognitive deficits as a result., A person I know was given multiple shock treatments and I have painfully watched her cognitive recall decline dramatically over the last few years. I was in benzo withdrawal which no one recognize as such. And if youve got a little old lady in front of you who simply refuses to get better, then why not electroshock her?. Specifically, I obtained a computer. I was saying youve done something to my head, [but] me and my family were being told there was nothing wrong with me. Nobody consciously, voluntarily accept this can not be! Julie with, from left, Dr. Ahmad Raza, Dr. Shawn McClintock and Dr. Mustafa Husain. peer respites, peer support, non-medical holistic whole body approaches, to name a few.) As you've said, ECT involves electricity to the brain, it's an inexact science. My new neurologist who's alot more knowledgable and caring asked if I'd try brivaracetam, he mentioned it was very similar to or basically like a new keppra just no Genaric name out where I'm from. Either science is right or there is a spiritual realm. I have Gerd which I believe is caused by the hernia. Family and friends noticed the difference reminding me NEVER to agree to be shocked again., My mother was a victim of ECT and was never the same again. It was so damn expensive per month and it did the same as the old Keppra drug. After I wrote it (and rewrote it according to their specifications) they decided there was not enough space to print my article. !, Among the people I know who have undergone ECT is my mother. Breaking Blind: Antipsychotic Drug Efficacy May Be Overestimated, Unveiling Brazils Rich Tradition in Participatory Mental Health Research. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. For someone who has herself not been injured by shock, but has the sensitivity, insight, and compassion to fight on behalf of those who are usually too damaged to do so is inspiring. It's been a hard burden to bear the past 15 years. This, he said, was the latest technology. Dr John Read, of the University of East London said there was "no place" for ECT in evidence-based medicine due to risks of brain damage. For any reason Its just not worth it. There I was, now complaining that something was wrong with my brain. In 2006-2007 i had electroconvulsive therapy (ect). For what? So the hospital starting giving me these treatments and I lost the ability to speak. I am not suffering, I am laughing my butt off, because I find this drama too funny, the stupidity, the ignorance, the bigotry just too comical. They have told me they just feel robotic toward life., 15 High Voltage Electro Shock Treatments were forced on me as a teenager. I have difficulty doing things that used to be second hand to me. I not only have long term memory loss, but i have cognitive impairments and brain damage. I used to have a photographic memory. It is inhumane and not Medicine! That psychiatric atrocities stopped, it is first necessary to recognize psychiatry crime.
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