I had ECT when nothing helped for my depression. I was intensely suicidal and medications were not working. It was a last resort for me.

I lost far more memory than they said I would. I have no recollection of a trip I took with a friend, and that entire time is fuzzy in my mind.

But it worked. It was frustrating and scary but it worked. Most of mine was done inpatient. The funny thing is that I can recall much surrounding the ECT. I remember the doctor's face, the procedure, how my head was sticky from the electrodes and how the hospital let me rest as long as I needed to because of it. After a week or two, I did it outpatient. I remember sitting in a chair in a hallway with other people, and that's it.

I have told my husband and psychiatrist that I never want to do it again, unless it's a life or death matter. This last hospitalization, because it was one out of three that happened close together, the doctor strongly suggested it. I felt I wasn't at that point yet, and wanted to give Lamictal a try.

I would absolutely do it again if I needed to, though. It saved my life when nothing else could.