I don't really feel down because I can't really feel much of any emotion. I can't feel pleasure, loneliness, love, sadness. All I can really feel is fear, angst, and a lot of frustration. I've tried all the anti depressants my doctor can think of and now she is telling me ECT as a last resort for my treatment resistant anhedonia (inability to feel simple pleasures).

Most antidepressants blunt your affect and I do not need that. I need something to elevate my emotions and I am wondering if ECT has helped any of you regain some of your emotions and brought back the zest of life.

Thanks for any information you can offer.

I've had ECT before to come out of a deep depression - one where I was in the hospital and had stopped eating and even biting my nails (a nervous habit of many years). It helped more than any medication did - if it weren't for the memory-related side effects I might have been doing maintenance treatments to this day. It's good for coming out of rock bottom.

I am not sure how it works on blunted emotions but it's worth a shot if nothing else is working. I would definitely make sure that you try natural solutions just in case those work, such as exercise, meditation, etc. The cognitive effects of ECT are not to be taken lightly and should only be used as a last resort.

I don't want to take ECT if it doesn't has a zero track record on a blunted affect. Does the ECT just numb your emotions making you feel less?

Originally Posted by Day Tripper

I don't want to take ECT if it doesn't has a zero track record on a blunted affect. Does the ECT just numb your emotions making you feel less?

It definitely helped me to get rid of the numb feelings and allowed me to feel emotions again.

[markdl]

This might be something I have to consider too. I'm starting to feel a bit desperate.