I have been through ECT twice, and it saved my life twice. It isn't something I would recommend to people lightly though. I get concerned when I hear people say they want ECT because "nothing else has worked". My fear is that they believe that ECT is a cure and will solve their problems.

ECT is a treatment, NOT a cure. As in all treatments, there is no guarantee it will work, it comes with potential serious risks, and the effects even when positive are rarely permanent.

I chose ECT both times because my depression was so severe that I had already been hospitalized for a fairly lengthy period of time because I was not at all safe to be out due to impulsive, serious suicidal behaviors (not just ideations). ECT allowed me to see very rapid improvement in my condition so that I was able to actually return home in a matter of days after starting treatments rather than remaining weeks or possibly months longer inpatient, away from my husband, my sons, and my livelihood. Things turned around for me that fast, and life returned to normality so much faster because of ECT.

It wasn't a cure, but I knew that going in. I had very little memory loss, only for isolated short-term things like what did I eat for lunch that day or details about my time inpatient (which was perfectly fine to forget as far as I'm concerned). I returned to work soon after treatments concluded and had no long-term memory or cognitive impairment.

In MY case, ECT was the right decision. I know several other people personally who went through ECT with almost the exact results and for the same reasons. It isn't a treatment to just try on a whim just because nothing else has worked. I personally would not have ECT on a maintainance basis though I know that works satisfactorily for some people.

Would I have ECT again? Yes, but it would only be if, God forbid, things unfolded similarly for me again. I have never quite been in that position again since then though, and will hopefully never have to make that decision again.