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ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

CaringHubby99Casual Contributor09 Mar 2025, 8:36 pm AEDT

ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

Hey All

Long time reader first time writer.

My husband has been diagnosed with treatment resistant depression. So next steps are things like rTMS or ETC.

I feel selfish as I’ve seen the patients leave ECT at the clinic we attended and it scared me. However I’ve also read the online stories about how it changes peoples life and the memory loss can be beneficial to the patient.

The fact I’m asking this probably means I’m already somewhat stoic about the idea and have answered my own question.

Yet I’d love to hear some lived experience from both sides - as a career who’s supported their person and from a patient.

I feel I don’t have the right to have my husband seek alternative treatments due to how I feel. When we both step back his pain does bring me pain and maybe it’s time for a reset that ECT provides. Short term pain for me to remove long term suffering for him.

sorry but of a ramble. Thx for making space for it.

thx

[name removed by moderator]

15 replies

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In response to: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

SnowieSenior Contributor30 Mar 2025, 2:20 pm AEDT

Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

Hi @CaringHubby99

I'm so glad things are going well for you and your Hubby.

Sounds like it is helping him which is great news. Hopefully it continues this way.

In response to: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

Eve7Senior Contributor30 Mar 2025, 5:51 pm AEDT

Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

That is great news @CaringHubby99 I am really happy for you and hubby. That’s a great attitude “I want to learn and participate”. Well done!

I have been having ECT and you are so right about the stigma. Take care.

In response to: Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

tymeModerator30 Mar 2025, 6:00 pm AEDT

Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

Hey @CaringHubby99 , so glad to hear back from you.

I personally feel ECT has a place in mental health. You don't fully rely on it, but is DOES activate parts of the brain.

The work moving on now is, what next after ECT? What therapy can he engage in to keep those parts of the brain activated?

I feel this is the next part of the work.

All the best! Thanks for the update!

In response to: Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

tymeModerator15 Apr 2026, 10:59 pm AEST

Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

How are you going @CaringHubby99 ?

In response to: Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

CaringHubby99Casual Contributor15 Apr 2026, 11:12 pm AEST

Re: ECT: Could it be scarier for me (career) than them?

Hey @tyme 👋

Thanks for checking in. It's been a super long journey that's still playing out.

I logged in to check, as over the last few years I've been building my advocacy skills to support others, and wanted to make sure I checked in to let everyone know that ECT does work and it's not scary. It was a lifesaver at the time.

As for our journey:

We had the ECT sessions, and it looked to be going well. However, we hit a plateau. Recently, we had another crisis, and we are currently six weeks into another admission at a private Ramsay clinic.

We have a great team around hubby, though good things take time. As we know, patience can be hard for carers and the people who support their loved ones.

We are now playing the normal medication roulette and supporting hubby to get to a stage where he feels safe and is safe to come home and continue his recovery.

Thx again for checking in ❤️

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