Actually, I applied for SSDI before I had ECT. I had been hospitalized a couple of times by then, though. I also hadn't worked for about 4 years and had a spotty work history of quitting a bunch of times because I got so depressed I couldn't get out of bed. I always quit so that I don't get fired.

ECT is actually effective for my bipolar symptoms because I tended toward major depression and mixed episodes. I have been hypomanic a few times, but I don't think I have ever been full on manic. In my mixed episodes I used to get delusions and I think I hallucinated sounds occasionally like the TV being on when it wasn't. I was also very paranoid.

I have been well for about a year and a half and I think the ECT had a lot to do with it. In fact, I have been taken off my meds and have been off them for a year. I will never take meds again. They made me worse than I was without them.

I fear I might be getting depressed again, and I am fighting it hard....