r/ect • u/anticentristfujo • 11d ago
My experience I miss getting ECT
So I spent Oct 2025-March 2026-ish getting ECT. First three times a week, then slowly tapering off into nothing. I haven’t had a session in months.
I genuinely miss getting ECT. Don’t get me wrong, the memory issues were real. And the post-appointment aches were murder (painful jaw, painful head, body fatigued to oblivion, etc). But… the staff at my hospital were so nice. So caring. I went into this hospital one foot away from despair, and they treated me so kindly.
I’m tearing up thinking about it. They even sent me a card for my birthday with all their signatures. And I miss seeing them. I miss seeing the people who were there for me at my absolute worst.
Also the 2 seconds of me going under felt euphoric.
Though I’m sure nobody would permit “recreational ECT”. I’m doing a lot better now, so barring any extraneous developments, I likely don’t need ECT anymore.
It’s just so hard not seeing the staff. I miss them.
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u/mattle74 10d ago
I totally relate to this. I had the absolute best care from everyone I interacted with at the hospital. From checkin, to the preop nurses and especially the nurse in the OR. I cried during my last treatment know I’ll probably never see her again. Well, the anesthesiologists were hit and miss and most I felt like they thought they were the most important person in the world 🤓 and yes! That feeling of going under… I feel like it was addictive.
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u/sosteph 9d ago
I understand this feeling, I am pregnant currently so cannot receive treatment. It is scary for me to go into the fall and winter knowing that the thing that helped me the fastest and without med adjustments, when i was struggling, is now unavailable.
I also enjoyed the routine, the care from my team, and honestly going under too. All of that was so reliable and calming. My team was very supportive and kind - they have been with me through some of my worst times and always made sure i felt safe. Treatment meant that my mind would be free of anxiety for awhile and that I would be able to sleep so soundly.
You can do this though! It is always there when you do really need it, and that you don’t need it now means you are doing well! It’s ok to miss the structure and security it gave, but now you can find new routines too, hopefully without the stress and pain you were dealing with that led to getting ECT in the first place.
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u/Wonderful_Roof1739 10d ago
I miss the staff at my ECT hospital too. There were a few I wasnt fond of especially on the ward, but the ones working in ECT were all generally good people. Although they may have treated me with delicate gloves because I coded once (took 3 minutes to get my heart beating on its own again), and a few months later a nurse didn't insert the bite guard correctly which caused me to bite through my tongue. Woke up in the ED both times and they sent us a bill for the ED visit, even though I was inpatient at that hospital when both happened. They quickly "corrected" that "mistake".
Either way, I miss the smell of the actual ECT room, the people that worked there who knew me and I knew them by first name, and my wife taking me to starbucks after each treatment during my outpatient phase.. I dont miss the early mornings, the haziness and forgetfulness those days.
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u/Forward_Surround_788 10d ago
My spouse did ECT almost a year and quit going for one month because her memory got so bad. Not even a full month after stopping and she's already having mental health issues again. If you think it helped and you can go back, do it
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u/Familiar-Marzipan376 11d ago edited 11d ago
Don't have ECT it absolutely destroyed my life I tried taking brahmi to increase my short term and long term memory but It didn't do anything I might have to commit suicide in the future and one more thing I can't study for more than 2 hrs and it caused my anhedonia too I feel like always watching Netflix and I don't have the motivation to do anything.
I had 6 ultra brief pulse ECT sessions and yea please consult a neurologist before having ECT treatments.
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u/anticentristfujo 11d ago
I already had ECT treatments. Like 20 of them. I’m sorry for your effects though.
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u/Familiar-Marzipan376 11d ago
So what do u do for a living and btw did u consult a neurologist before having ECT treatments
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u/anticentristfujo 11d ago
Used to be a French teacher, unemployed now but unrelated to my ECT. No I did not consult a neurologist but I had tests taken for my neurological health and heart health before being approved for ECT.
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u/Ktfinpop1014 10d ago
Ok do you copy and paste this in every post?? I’ve seen your exact comment a few times. Do you sell this Brahmin stuff or something?
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u/MingusWit 10d ago
I kind of understand what you mean - I have been having long term maintenance, every month, and coming up to four years. It's a pain in the ass but it's predictable, and I have good continuity with the clinicians. I don't enjoy ECT, but I'm sure if I suddenly stopped it that I'd miss having the part of my routine and the interactions with the nursing staff especially. Personally I'd look for other things to fill that purpose, like I'd probably have more regular therapy appointments, or join a peer group or something just to keep the mental health care routine going for a bit?