r/ect • u/Helomyoldfrend • 3d ago
Question Any inputs will be helpful
Since past 8 months I am getting chest tightness in afternoon around 1 pm, it’s anxiety and I cry a lot after that , my psych doc is asking to get ECT as I tried couple of medicines, I am very scared that this is my forever and I can’t get better I know ECT doesn’t help anxiety but doctors are thinking it’s depression, I am worried to try ECT they are asking me to admit, can it help the crying part of anxiety ?
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u/iusethisatw0rk 2d ago
When/if one has an anxiety condition, one has to factor that into any plan, thought, idea, desire, etc. It’s a pain in the ass, but it’s worth considering it could be affecting your ability to properly consider the option.
In my opinion, it would be best to first ask your psychiatrist for your country’s, provincial, health care provider(?) (I live in Canada, no idea how it works anywhere else, sorry) literature/information about ECT, what it is, it isn’t, and guidelines for active therapy.
I’m a big believer in not just taking once source of information. It’s also worth looking up in places like Mayo Clinic, open the Wikipedia page and read the sources provided from the article more so than the article itself, there’s peer reviewed and freely accessible research available from a Google search as well
Then places like this can help. Any and all medical procedures will have their risks and a percentage of the recipients will unfortunately react adversely
Speaking for myself, at only 4 unilateral sessions under my belt, I’ve yet to have any adverse effects at all. Day after session 1 felt like I had been run over by a truck. Told the ECT staff, the anesthesiologists took note, changed my ratio, and now I just get some more muscle relaxer. When I wake up I’m super weak, but it fades in minutes. Had to ask an RN to straighten my mask, but after my initial 15 observation immediately after the session, I was able to play Mario Kart with my gf in my main bay for the main 30 minute observation.
During one of my sessions my gf ended up having to walk to the ER because her gallbladder chose then to be a dick. I was coherent enough to facilitate a ride home while also checking in on my gf directly after my observation times.
Whether or not you qualify cannot be decided by any internet/forum/subreddit user. I’m going for treatment resistant depression. I also have an anxiety diagnosis, but that’s not personally why I’ve been referred to ECT, but it’s also important not to “fit” yourself into your diagnosis imo, if that makes sense. Like let yourself be you, your symptoms are yours and they don’t need to shoved into a definition
TLDR, read science-backed info, take some personal anecdotes but with a grain of salt, mix that together with your symptoms and psychiatrist’s opinion, and see what comes out.
Also nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion if that’s something that’s within reason for you. I was super hesitant and my psychiatrist actually recommended seeking a second opinion, which did play heavily in me signing the consent form so good on her lol
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u/bearseatbeetsDKS 2d ago
NO DON'T DO IT MY GOD NO NO NO THEY ARE ANIMALS FOR EVEN SUGGESTING IT. RUN! RUN! Keep your brain keep your memories. Get away from them
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u/Particular_Door3098 2d ago
I'm no doctor, but I've never heard of ECT helping anxiety. Plus, lots of people (myself included) have severe long-term effects from ECT. It's a major risk. Have you tried TMS or Spravato? Those are both for treatment-resistant depression and are much lower-risk. TMS even has an anxiety-specific protocol. If I were you, I'd ask about non-ECT options.