When you’re asleep from the anesthetic and your muscles are relaxed, the doctor presses a button on the ECT machine. This causes a small amount of electric current to pass through the electrodes to your brain, producing a seizure that usually lasts for about 60 seconds.
A few minutes later, the effects of the short-acting anesthetic and muscle relaxant begin to wear off. You’re taken to a recovery area, where you’re monitored for any potential problems. When you wake up, you may experience a period of confusion lasting from a few minutes to a few hours or more. I would wake up confused and found myself strapped to the table which caused a significant amount of anxiety and panic. I was somewhat aggressive and even angry when coming off of the effects of the anesthesia. The anger coupled with the displacement and confusion caused me many problems such as; trusting the doctors’, having any confidence in further treatment, and the thoughts that my mental illness is too powerful and that I may never overcome it.
In the United States, ECT treatments are generally given two to three times weekly for three to four weeks — for a total of 6 to 12 treatments. I had treatments every other day for a total of 11 ECT’s.
The number and type of treatments you’ll need depend on the severity of your symptoms and how rapidly they improve.
Some people may be advised not to return to work, make important decisions, or drive until one to two weeks after the last ECT in a series, or for at least 24 hours after a single treatment during maintenance therapy. Resuming activities depends on when memory loss and confusion are resolved. I was literally “out of it” for several days following treatment.
My memory loss, the worst of the side effects for me, has proven to be long-term. I have a hard time remembering events as a youth, particularly junior high and high school. There have been several instances when I will meet an old friend and recognize them but can’t put a name to their face. It is embarrassing because you know that you know them but can’t remember your relationship to them. Family will reminisce about fun times growing up and I cannot relate to the stories. It is very frustrating and troublesome.
Many people begin to notice an improvement in their symptoms after about six treatments with electroconvulsive therapy. Full improvement may take longer, though ECT may not work for everyone. I continued on from the ECT’s having had significant side effects, as mentioned. Since then, I have tried just about every medication available for depression, anxiety, and bipolar. I have found that medication and psycho-therapy, along with outstanding doctors and a great support system has brought me much healing and peace of mind and has been a better alternative than ECT.
No one knows for certain how ECT helps treat severe depression and other mental illnesses. What is known, though, is that many chemical aspects of brain function are changed during and after seizure activity. These chemical changes may build upon one another, somehow reducing symptoms of severe depression or other mental illnesses. That’s why ECT is most effective in people who receive a full course of multiple treatments.
I would caution anyone considering alternative treatments such as ECT to really do your homework and consider all of the side effects that can accompany them before committing to any treatment.
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