I had 15 treatments - my kids were 7 and 10. I was also mis-medicated and misdiagnosed for 10 years - so this was supposed to be my last resort to get out of the depressive mode. During the treatments my files were looked at closely and I had been thoroughly tested for ADHD and found to have it - but never received proper treatment for it. The same doctor, doing the ECT took my case and started me on ADHD meds and I really feel like that is what pulled me out of my depression - because I would fall into such a serious state of depression when I was not medicated.

I would not chose to do ECT again - unless I had no options at all. I lost at least 1 year of memory, and took about a year to regain my short term memory. Not fun when you are responsible for running the kids around, and completely forget the people you knew just a year ago. I was very open to people that I had suffered memory loss, and was working on regaining the short term - but it still was traumatic for me. Some people do not have memory issues, and ECT can be a life saver, and fully beneficial for some people.

Even now - years later - no longer taking any medications, I can tell that the frustration of my surrounding issues are the cause of my depressive modes. If the causes are there, ECT is not going to erase those. I have learned coping strategies, and stuff to get me out of that mode- Knowing that I am not suffering from true depression, but more of a state of frustration, and struggling to function with the many stressors around me has stopped me from hoping that a medication or treatment will fix it. I am envious of those that benefit from it though! It was a long road of trials and errors, but my kids are what kept me going.

Its been since 2007 and there are still times when I see parents, and I recognize their faces but do not know what their names are, and what type of relations ship I had with them. Its awkward, especially when they know me!