Life After ECT Treatment: A Personal Journey

Life after ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) treatment is anything but normal. My biggest complaint (like so many others) is my memory. I lost most memories of my wedding day. Apparently, I went to the Bahamas on a cruise ship for my honeymoon, but I don’t remember that.

All those good memories are no longer. Since the ECT, which I believe happened in my twenties (I think), I have had memory problems. I get terrible headaches since the procedures. And, by the way, it didn’t help me.

“One of the most scariest things in life is when you come to the realization that the only thing that can save you is… yourself.”-Demi Lovato

What is ECT?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a powerful medical treatment for severe mental health conditions like major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Often considered when medications or therapy haven’t worked, ECT offers hope to those struggling with conditions that feel impossible to overcome.

How It Works

During ECT, small, controlled electrical currents are passed through the brain while the patient is under general anesthesia.
These currents trigger a brief seizure, which is believed to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.

ECT treatment risks

Life after ECT treatment has screwed up my life. I feel like, not only am I having memory problems, but also triggered the schizophrenia. Yes, I may have had the gene for it, but I started having episodes right after ECT.

I believe doctors downplay the risks to profit from it.ECT comes with some heart and blood pressure risks, including serious complications like arrhythmias or heart attacks, particularly for people with cardiovascular problems. It can also temporarily impact heart rate and blood pressure, which can be risky for those with existing heart conditions.

There are also seizure risks. While the induced seizure is controlled and therapeutic, there is a risk of prolonged or uncontrolled seizures. That doesn’t surprise me.

“Every time I tried to concentrate, my mind glided off, like a skater, into a large empty space, and pirouetted there, absently.”-Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar)

ECT treatment side effects

ECT has its side effects, and I’m still learning to navigate life after treatment. The hardest part? Memory loss. It feels like chunks of my life are missing—pieces of a puzzle that don’t fit. Sometimes a photo or object sparks a flicker of memory, but often those moments feel permanently gone.

Memory loss has been tough, but the real struggle has been with concentration and focus. Before ECT, I could multitask and tackle complex challenges without breaking a sweat. Now, even the simplest tasks feel like scaling a mountain. Distractions come at me from every direction, and it’s beyond frustrating—it feels like I’m a shadow of who I used to be, stuck just out of reach of my full potential.

Long term side effects are headaches. Headaches, for me, now a regular, unwelcome guest. Some days, they’re manageable; other days, the pain is so intense it’s hard to focus. It’s tough to keep going when your head won’t stop pounding.

ECT has been life-changing for many, and I regret giving it a shot. But it’s so important for others to be aware of the potential side effects before diving in. Mental health treatments aren’t one-size-fits-all—what works wonders for one person might not be the right fit for someone else with ECT treatment.

Short-term side effects

Immediately after ECT, you may experience:

Headaches
Aching in the muscles and/or jaw tiredness while the effects of the anaesthetic wear off
Confusion, particularly if you are an older person. This usually wears off after 30 minutes
Sickness or nausea

Is ECT treatment dangerous?

Life after ECT treatment is anything but normal. Whether it is “dangerous”, depends on the individual’s health, the condition being treated, and the expertise of the medical team. If you don’t have a doctor who knows what they’re doing, yes, it can be dangerous.

Memory loss is a common concern for those undergoing ECT, often with profound effects. One person shared losing seven years of memories, including their child’s birth—a moment they can never recover. Another spoke of forgetting major milestones, like their daughter’s dedication or a surprise birthday party. These stories show the emotional toll memory loss can have during ECT.

Many individuals expressed sadness and frustration over the loss of treasured memories or the inability to recall significant periods of their lives. This was particularly distressing for those who felt the treatment did not improve their mental health. Straight up, that would be me

Emotional health after ECT

For some, the experience of ECT was deeply distressing. One survivor compared the process to being abused, particularly if they had a history of trauma. Another described the disorientation and fear they felt after treatment, which sometimes extended to their loved ones.

Maybe I’m being biased, because it didn’t help me, but even if it did, I would still be distraught over memory issues. A good portion of my memory was wiped out, and I still have memory issues nowadays.

Life after ECT treatment is difficult. I get emotional, because I felt I didn’t have a say in getting ECT treatments. My doctor ordered it, and that was that. I wasn’t in any shape to argue. Banning ECT should happen, because it is unsafe. They don’t tell you about all the harmful effects.

“My dad had ECT when I was a kid, and since ‘treatment,’ he will look at me and call me by my sister’s name. It’s like my name doesn’t exist in his memory unless someone reminds him of it.”-Anonymous Family Member

Lithium and ECT treatment

Life after ECT treatment has left me useless in the memory department. I was taking lithium at the time, and didn’t know about this. The combination of lithium and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can present certain risks and challenges, as highlighted in various studies and case reports:

Increased Risk of Delirium

Patients receiving both lithium and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may face a higher risk of developing delirium compared to those undergoing ECT alone. Delirium, which causes confusion and cognitive difficulties, can make recovery more challenging but is something healthcare providers carefully monitor and manage.

For instance, one study found an 11.7-fold increase in the likelihood of delirium in patients treated with this combination. These results highlight why it’s so important to closely monitor and assess risks when using lithium alongside ECT in clinical practice.

Prolonged Seizures and Cognitive Issues

Lithium has been found to increase the chance of prolonged seizures during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sessions, which can sometimes cause complications during the procedure.

It can also lead to cognitive challenges like confusion, trouble concentrating, and memory issues, which might impact a patient’s recovery and overall well-being after treatment. That’s why it’s so important to closely monitor and manage lithium levels in patients receiving ECT.

Neurotoxicity Concerns

In some instances, combining lithium with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been associated with potential neurotoxicity, which may lead to symptoms like confusion, memory issues, or even seizures.

These risks have sparked concerns within the medical community, leading experts to suggest a more cautious approach when thinking about this combination. In fact, some recommend avoiding the use of lithium and ECT together, particularly when safer alternatives are available.

Blood-Brain Barrier Effects

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, the important structure that controls what moves between the bloodstream and the brain. This change could affect the concentration of lithium in the brain, possibly enhancing its effects.

As a result, people receiving ECT while on lithium might experience side effects like delirium, which can show up as confusion, disorientation, or trouble thinking clearly. It’s important to understand this interaction to make sure ECT is used safely for those on lithium therapy.

Individual Variability

Some studies suggest that combining lithium with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) doesn’t lead to significant issues, while others point out the potential for complications like longer seizures, memory problems, or increased sensitivity in the brain.

These mixed findings show that factors like a patient’s age, lithium dosage, treatment duration, and any pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions can strongly influence outcomes. That’s why it’s so important to have careful monitoring and a personalized treatment plan when considering using lithium alongside ECT.

“ECT is still used – in much more limited circumstances, but on the most vulnerable patients. It is still highly controversial. Its opponents say it is a licensed way of producing brain damage. Its proponents claim it saves deeply depressed patients from suicide.”-Janet Frame

Coping after ECT

There is no coping with ECT treatments. How do you cope with having a “controlled” seizure, because they say it works? How many people has it not worked for? And even after it doesn’t work after several rounds, they give you more.

I can’t cope with the fact that half of my memories are gone. Like I said, I think it’s a ruse to get your money. I’m pissed, because after all these years I’m coping with the repercussions. But, they don’t tell you about that part.

I’m coping with the memory issues by writing everything down. I have to write it down immediately, otherwise, I will forget. I forget people’s names and have bad concentration issues.

So, coping with it is difficult. I feel like they ruined my life. I mean, I try to stay positive, but some days it’s tough. When I worked, I had problems learning how to do the jobs. It took me twice as long, because I had trouble remembering the procedures (I was a machine operator).

Sum It All Up

Life after ECT treatment is not easy, but I’m managing. I know some people are in favor of ECT saying that it helped them. That may be true, but in my case it’s not true. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone suffering from a mental illness.

If you decide to try it, make sure you have all the facts, so you can make an informed decision. Make sure you know all the possible side effects. Also, make sure that a credible doctor knows what they’re doing.

Don’t do it because your doctor wants you to do it. You have the right to refuse, and don’t let them tell you any different. It’s your body and mind that they are messing with. Peace and love. Until next time…