Friend just got back from ECT

[the art of war]

I had deleted a great number of phone #s from my cell, dumped my tracfones, blah blah - made the steps too move on in my life. The other day, I get a phone call from an old time "friend" - I don't recognize the number and I pick up to, "Hey whose this, do I know you?" - of course I give the .. you called me blah blah blah.. then he drops it "Well dude it says John and your # and money that you borrowed me, but I have been in psychiatric treatment for a couple months, finishing with ECT (electro convulsive therapy), I can't remember a thing dude, the bad is gone but I don't know nothing, it's taking me 10 minutes to remember my son's name".

I have always opposed ECT's - I don't care how bad you are doing, I would prefer to see some severely drastic measures (and I mean give up your entire life, be ready to change everything you know and start with a team to help you). Than to see what I saw the last couple days.

I went to his house, first thing he says, "dude this car is wicked sick, when did you get this?" (2 years ago now?) We talked for nearly 30 minutes, during which period he forgot who I was 4 times, forgot his son twice, forgot where he was at one point and almost went full blown hypo. Today he is trying to get to the ER because his glucuse levels are over 1,000 and he is peeing blood. The guy calls me and simply is lost (he's sitting in front of bed bath and beyond). I had to explain to him by showing his bloodwork what he was doing (the hospital is about 2 miles away) and that it was important to get him there. He's dropped off in care - bottom fucking line - I have yet to hear ONE damn good thing about these ECTs, why the HELL is this still going on? I know that we have made advancements blah blah.... but this is the second person (first I've personally been close with) whose life is a jigsaw puzzle.

[liftsiron]

ECT's should be a last resort only. Did you know that there are published studies that show testosterone injections are as effective as ECT's for reliving psychosis and test is more effective in cases of severe depression.

[the art of war]

ECT's should be a last resort only. Did you know that there are published studies that show testosterone injections are as effective as ECT's for reliving psychosis and test is more effective in cases of severe depression.

I did not - but I did certainly subscribe to the theory that ECTs are a horrid treatment, last resort or not... I don't know if I would want to live after that treatment. And knowing full well what would happen if I had it done - I would vanish off this planet end up in the UK somewhere.

Liftsiron - do you have the study for that info behind the ect / test injections ??!?!?!

[Bouncer]

crazy shit. i know nothing about that type of life. seems insane to me that people would ever get that fucked up in the first place.

[dna9488]

Thats horrible for that person. I feel bad for him man. Sucks that you can't remember your own sons name, and everything about him in life :(

[the art of war]

crazy shit. i know nothing about that type of life. seems insane to me that people would ever get that fucked up in the first place.

Thats horrible for that person. I feel bad for him man. Sucks that you can't remember your own sons name, and everything about him in life :(

bro's I've seen some / been through some shitty things - to imagine the level of pain where you would except this treatment ... I truthfully cannot imagine it.

The thing that really bothers me - he has no memory of if he signed on to do it, if they just strapped him down, he was in a bad spot, period. This isn't some typical junkie, I've seen this kid jump out of his car at a stop light and just pounding the shit out of a minivan - his mood swings are unbelievable. When he's down to earth, nice dude, made some mistakes - who hasn't. But holy shit, it is scary, I remember working roofs with him and he would start shooting nails into his hands and feet into the roof unless the boss would tell him he was going to get paid in cash and a raise (of course this didn't happen). Something wrong? Absolutely, shock yourself till you can't r remember your child without 5-10 minutes of help ? What's worse, honestly. I don't know but I hope none of us have to be in a situation where ECTs become an option.... shit is NO joke.

[liftsiron]

I couldn't locate the studies comparing ECT to testosterone as they are quite old, however you may find some things of interest in this paper I wrote.

Testerone as treatment for depression - ANABOLIC-ENHANCEMENT.COM

[the art of war]

I couldn't locate the studies comparing ECT to testosterone as they are quite old, however you may find some things of interest in this paper I wrote.

Testerone as treatment for depression - ANABOLIC-ENHANCEMENT.COM

thank you bro - here's one for you: I know a girl who is looking into the same treatment, I'm begging her not too, but it's not going well. Any suggestions ?

[blm]

That's horrible!

Reminds me of Requiem for a Dream

YouTube - Requiem for a Dream - The Dream

00:57 mark.

[the art of war]

blm I have that movie on bluray I believe, or at least a bluray rip and the original dvd... that shock treatment is beyond inhumane.

[liftsiron]

See if you can get her to go a clinical psychologist to get another opinion and treatment options.

thank you bro - here's one for you: I know a girl who is looking into the same treatment, I'm begging her not too, but it's not going well. Any suggestions ?

[mofo]

thank you bro - here's one for you: I know a girl who is looking into the same treatment, I'm begging her not too, but it's not going well. Any suggestions ?

so this is what i've heard works. people who turn to drastic therapy which is often used as a last resort (in your case ECT) they haven't quite been to different clinicians. every clinical psychologist follows a different school of thought (meaning they follow a different theory and they apply therapies differently than the next psychologist). ask her how many therapists she's been to and try to help her determine what school they fall under. do a quick search on google and find a site that does any sort of bio on the therapist. they usually have it listed there. if you don't feel like doing that, have her just ask the therapist but don't expect accurate answers.

anyway, these different schools lead themselves to different therapies. behaviors will try to fix the behavior and not the thought leading to the behavior and cognitive-behaviorists tend to look at both ends. freudian/psychoanalytic clinicians will try to look at your "hidden" drives and see if maybe there are repressed feelings or memories. i could go on and on and explain every school but i won't.

end of story, try to get her to see multiple therapists with different approaches. she might have gotten stuck with a therapist who's good at what he does but doesn't do what she (your friend) needs.