Shock treatments

[Maverick]

I was wondering has anybody (or someone you know) has done shock treatments and what were your experiences with them and if they were effective?

[byee]

Anthony, I asked my Dad The Shrink about this for you. He said that in some cases, ECT is not only very effective, but actually the treatment of choice. When? Usually, when all available meds have been tried unsuccessfully, and/or if the patient is so withdrawn that they are unable to eat or function and there's no time to wait for the meds to work (often up to 3 weeks). It's not as ghastly and creepy as some make it out to be, really the idea is that since the brain functions with electricity, by adding a jolt and inducing a seizure, you can 'right' the brain's electrical function, and restore health. He says it works, in those limited cases, when it's been determined that it is the fastest and most effective way to restore fundtioning. Just be sure that whoever does it has alot of exoerience assessing the overall condition of the patient, the appropriateness of the treatment, and that they have experience with ECT.

[Sapphire]

My grandmother had this and I'm not sure it helped her greatly. It didn't harm her either though.

[Hyper]

Hmm they wanted to do it to my mother once.. But she refused

And my own opinion about it, isn't very positive

[Maverick]

My mom is the one with the illness. She was first diagnosed as bipolar but she's showing more symptoms of schizophrenia. Hearing voices, tallking to herself, being violent, suicial at home. Saying she's hearing voices inside her head making her to things. She's been at the psyciatric hospital and said the doctor might (or is planning on) doing shock treatments.

I really do hope this works out if she gets it because she's been on many types of medicine for the past 2 and a half years and been hopspitalized many times due to relapses in her condition.

This has all been very stressful but I'm hoping this can work out

[byee]

I'm really sorry to hear this, Anthony. I can imagine how stresful it must be for you. Your mom is probably getting more attention than you are, it's most often the case that the patient often does better than the loved ones. At least they have the attention and care of the professionals to help them. Feel free to PM me, or if you'd like to arrange a way to talk with my Dad, let me know.

[northskater110]

wow i didnt think they still used that.....

[Maverick]

I'm really sorry to hear this, Anthony. I can imagine how stresful it must be for you. Your mom is probably getting more attention than you are, it's most often the case that the patient often does better than the loved ones. At least they have the attention and care of the professionals to help them. Feel free to PM me, or if you'd like to arrange a way to talk with my Dad, let me know.
Not getting as much attention isn't an issue for me. Even when I was younger before all this happened I was never the one to want a whole load of attention. I don't feel deprived or spiteful because my mom requires extra care. I want her to get the extra care she needs to get well. In fact no one has given me any less attention. I'm not a child that needs constant guidance.

Also, as much as I appreciate the offer, no thanks because I'm tired of having to talk about it even to the people I care about. I just want to see her get better, not constantly have to talk about it. I want results, not let's pity Anthony.

[byee]

Not getting as much attention isn't an issue for me. Even when I was younger before all this happened I was never the one to want a whole load of attention. I don't feel deprived or spiteful because my mom requires extra care. I want her to get the extra care she needs to get well. In fact no one has given me any less attention. I'm not a child that needs constant guidance.

Also, as much as I appreciate the offer, no thanks because I'm tired of having to talk about it even to the people I care about. I just want to see her get better, not constantly have to talk about it. I want results, not let's pity Anthony.


Hmmm...you're a tough one, Anthony. I'm sorry for the intrusion. But you've misunderstood the offer and the intent.

You've lived with this a long time, and I'm sure you've adapted. My offer wasn't a 'pity' one, but an offer of support. Regardless of how strong one is (and one must be strong to live with mental illness of a loved one), we can all appreciate a little support. There's a diff between support and pity.

My offer wasn't so much directed to you as a pitiful patient. It was to help alleviate some of the responsibility of being an 18 year old trying to do right by his mom. My dad can answer any questions quite competently you might have, given his experience. The offer still stands.

[Maverick]

Yeah, but support can only do so much. When I was 15 and 16 maybe the support would have been more appreciated by me, but now at this stage nearly 3 years later, it doesn't do much for me. I just deal with it one day at a time and I'm able to handle myself much better than I was 15. If I talked to someone who was experiencing the same thing or had went through the same thing that'd be different story.

[Maverick]

Well the good news is that she's being put into this (for lack of better term) "halfway house" which is a place to stay that's at the hospital facility. But she's not actually staying in the hospital as a patient but in a different area like a hotel but she's still monitored by nurses/doctors, etc. She'll be staying there for at minimum 2 weeks but may be up to 4-6. So I'm happy about that. Certainly has lightened up my mood.

[BlueStar]

I'd try it. If the MAOI's I start in a week don't work, I'd definitely try it when this semester of school is over.

[thesphinx]

BlueStar this is a pretty old thread and the question was answered please try not to bump them.
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