Rebooting the Brain with Electroconvulsive Therapy

[@alexandraamethyst7584]

Thanks for this video. ECT is so misunderstood, and has such a negative stigma associated with it. I've had 21 treatments so far, and for the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to WANT to live.

[@Bellatrix28618]

Alexandra Amethyst I’m so happy it worked for you. How are you doing now?

[@DLopez1983]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@prabhuthomas8770]

@@DLopez1983 I'm having ECT for the first time this week. Hope it works for me too.

[@jredenfield]

@@whereisit467 ass. She's sharing her positive testimony. I guess you haven't been this desperate, and have tried everything - and at the end of your rope...

[@jredenfield]

@@prabhuthomas8770 I had it last week....

[@75julianne]

I am a 42 year old bipolar patient who has long time severe treatment resistant depression with psychotic features and constant suicidal thoughts. I have also become very ill because of my depression and lack of care for myself with congestive heart failure, lupus and diabetes. Last month I had to be hospitalized for suicide and underwent 6 ECT treatments. The treatments were painless for me- I didn't even get a headache and each time after the third treatment I got better and better. The 6th and final treatment was the best. I had felt better than I had since I was little! I suffered from artists block for years before the ECT but after the treatments I had a renewed zest for art! The side effects that I got from the ECT that were a bit troublesome were memory loss- especially upon awakening after the ECT, and my ADHD symptoms seemed to have gotten a little worse. ECT has truely saved my life and given me a fresh start.

[@DouglasBloch]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. When I had ECT in 2016, it was also painless and produced no headaches. It also saved my life. I wish that there was not such a stigma around ECT, as more people would be able to benefit from it. I hope that you continue to feel well. If you do feel yourself slipping, you can always have "maintenance ECT," which involves one treatment a month. That is what happened with my mother, and it helped her.

[@mortar321]

How are you doing now?

[@beyondfirstclass]

Ur 2 pretty to be bipolar

[@selmo6376]

@@beyondfirstclass This is the most stupid and evil remark and comment one could ever have make. I feel sorry for you dude !!!

[@anonymous-zp9ze]

I had ECT 15 years ago and it worked for me but I don't remember how many treatments I received. I don't think I had any headaches because they gave me percocet. I was in the hospital because I was suicidal and took a bunch of pills. It seemed like I was in there a month before they even gave me ECT which was their idea and they wouldn't let me leave until they knew I was not suicidal anymore. I didn't need any maintenance treatments. I left the hospital and I felt like a new person and I was able to go back to school and do other things. I didn't ever forget the trauma/bad memories/PTSD which were presented to me in the form of intrusive thoughts but those memories seemed to be neutralized and less frequent and it wouldn't bother me the same way it used to. I have had some recent problems and new trauma/PTSD. I recently tried 5 ketamine infusions and they don't seem to do much. It seems to only make you feel good for a few hours the same day right after the bad side effects like dizziness wears off from the infusion but then I feel depression and the anxiety again after I wake up the next day. The only reason I chose to try ketamine is because you don't have to be hospitalized as in inpatient and/or need someone else to drive you home each day as an outpatient. They won't let you drive yourself home even if you waited for 4 hours after doing ECT.

[@autoinsider604]

Douglas, thank you for sharing your perspectives around ECT. I'm at a crossroads with treatment for MDD. While I've never been catatonic the last three years have been pure hell for me and my psychiatrist, while not saying that we've tried all medications, is asking me to again consider ECT. I am unable to work, spend nearly the entire day, every day in bed sleeping, and am losing hope that medications will pull me out of this paralyzingly abyss. I live a life consisting of waiting to see if the fog will lift tomorrow hoping maybe life will have color and meaning again and I can rebuild my life that at 51 is financially in shambles as a result of my health. Your observation regarding side effects from treatment and the alternative may have finally convinced me that my concerns over memory loss should no longer stop me from accepting this treatment. Afterall, I know what quality of life I'm stuck with if I do nothing. Thanks again. I'm closer than ever to accepting ECT.

[@DouglasBloch]

Auto Insider Thanks. Feel free to keep me posted on your decision. Evidently there are two ways to administer ECT--bilateral and unilateral. If you want, I could ask my clients which type they received. You can ask your doctor what he thinks of the difference. Here is one study that I found. psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1983-26048-001

[@tommymaughan1]

Good luck. I know what your going through.

[@nataliyataylor8749]

I had ECT done in 2012 and its saved my life! After 3 month I was stop my medications. I had remission for 8 years. Now I did TMS treatment its not working for me. Now I considering ECT again.

[@susi9912]

Hope you are doing well fidi you experienced some kind of long Term memory loss ?

[@ainzohraaainzohraa2987]

I had brain damage due to poisoning, my neurotransmitters and electrical communication are disrupted, an ECT treatment is known to restore that or not?

[@romanpineda6512]

hello, what have Doctors told you about ECT regarding your case?

[@garydenmark3060]

If I had done further research, and not have put my trust into those professionals that suggested this treatment, I would have have never done ect. I had lived with treatment resistance depression the majority of my adult life. I was able to take antidepressants. However they wore out their effectiveness within months and I would be shifted to another antidepressant . After attempting suicide, it was decided that I needed stronger action. I proceeded to take 21 sessions of ect over several months. The sessions were unsuccessful. I also became aloof and found my memory to be deeply affected. I not only forgot current memories but also portions of my past that I am continuing to deal with. I am fortunate to have a psychiatrist that has found a combination drug therapy that has been effective for 6 months. I have returned from the anguish I had lived with to the return of my true nature. However, the experience of ect affected my relationships in a negative way. It has taken months to rebuild friendships through honesty, therapy and truth telling, which continues today and will my entire life.

[@akshorts2115]

So what do you do for a living now 😢

[@johnwadsworth7086]

ECT saved me

[@laurieb9053]

Beware that you must be free of any benzodiazepines before ECT. I did not know this! I went in for ECT where they cold turkied me off my ativan after 20 years and jacked me up with phenobarbital to prevent me from having withdrawal seizures (ironic isn't it?). Then I had to have a number of x-rays. By the day before my ECT I was so sick from the benzo withdrawal I told the doctor I wanted out. Supposedly they want a different kind of seizure that benzos prevent. I am at my wits end with this horrible depression. I've tried every AD in the book. You can see why you feel there is no hope. Everyday is black, devoid of hope and painful..

[@DouglasBloch]

Thanks for your comments. I’m sorry that happened to you. Perhaps you can wait until you’re feeling stable off the Clonopin and then do the ECT. Six years after I made this video I went through ECT for severe depression and it really helped. In addition there are other therapies such as TMS, ketamine, and Vegas nerve stimulation. You can talk to your psychiatrist about these. Please keep searching for treatments. You can get better.

[@DouglasBloch]

I have a video called “your pen is not forever “that might be helpful

[@laurieb9053]

@@DouglasBloch thank you

[@laurieb9053]

@@DouglasBloch I bought both of your books on Audible. Will you have Healing from Depression on there as well at some point?

[@DouglasBloch]

Yes I will. Right now I’m working on a book on suicide prevention and then I will upload healing from depression. I also hope to upload my sequel to words that heal called listening to your inner voice. By the way, the video I mentioned is called "your pain is not forever.“

[@darumaprb8500]

thats really true you wake up like nothing happens ,theres nothing to be afraid ,is not like a horror movie nothing about that .

[@DouglasBloch]

That was my experience.

[@stephaniedenton5911]

I Just started ECT last week. I have had 2 treatments so far and those around me have noticed a difference already. I do wake up very disoriented and not really knowing where I am or what I'm doing there and I do have some slight memory loss but to me it's worth it. Some of the memories I'm losing are ones that in the past have been quite painful so I dont see much of a loss. All in all I wish I had done this years ago

[@scottcupp8129]

If it worked for you, then that is good. Some memories, especially the horrible ones, may need to be redirected to the vault in your mind. I wish I could get rid of some of mine but not at the risk of damaging part of my brain. Just like a diet of the mind, I chose not to indulge certain appetites.

[@Bellatrix28618]

Stephanie Denton how are you doing now?

[@scottcupp8129]

There is an instance of brain death for a single moment as the brain reboots. It is so exhausted by that rush of electrical current that it needs to readjust to its own natural currents in its connections. ECT is dangerous simply put. I am saying this from a common sense view. It's like plugging your computer in to a 480v source.

[@DouglasBloch]

Yes, but empirical evidence shows that it is helpful, even though non one knows why. It has saved the lives of people I know.

[@scottcupp8129]

And that really does matter. As you said, it is a last resort for TRD, but what sort of damage does it do with that huge surge of electrical current? An epileptic seizure is an electrical discharge within itself but a controlled shock is 4 to 5000 times stronger. If the data indicates it to be safe, it very well may be. But as a last resort I would agree upon.

[@artravision]

These are such excellent videos. Thank you!

[@DouglasBloch]

Iishana Artra I'm glad that you are getting something out of them.

[@garyswoboda9921]

Another good video, Douglas. I am a recovering addict and recovering depressive who was a member of one of your earliest depression groups, and found them quite helpful. I've also been a recipient of ECT, as you may recall. However, my "shock treatments" were way back in 1972, when the 'current' was much higher, as I understand. As such, they did give me significant memory loss -- large gaps in my memory which actually exist to this day. Similar to your mother's story, I had been practically catatonic during the daytime, then filled with terrorizing thoughts at night to a point where I couldn't sleep, or would wear myself out from anxiety to the point of exhaustion. As you state in your video, ECT was a last resort for me. Antidepressants and talk therapy hadn't worked, although this was before the advent of SSRI's, the modern day anti-depressant. I had a series of 7 shock treatments over a 17 day period, and was slated for 3 more. However, a severe panic attack prompted me to call my parents and have them get me out of the facility I was residing in (it was a lock-down psych ward at Holladay Park Hospital in Portland, which has since shut down). Anyway, I'm not sure what the difference in "voltage" is between 1972 and now, but I hope they've lowered it, as your video suggests, and as I've heard they have. As I like to share, the ECT I had back then did nothing for my depression, but I can now jump-start your car. A little shock therapy humor, if you will. Take care, my friend, and thank you for your instructive and articulate videos. Gary :)

[@DouglasBloch]

Gary Swoboda Great sharing Gary. ECT today is certainly much "gentler" than it was in 1972. I am glad you found your way to recovery by other means. As an attendee of AA, I think you will also appreciate my video "Recovering From Depression, One Day at a Time."

[@stephanieanderson-temkin4856]

@@DouglasBloch Not true! Now, since paralytic agents are used, they give nearly 10x the voltage.

[@mortar321]

Is ECT effective for crippling anxiety and psychotic symptoms that don't respond to medications?

[@DouglasBloch]

Igor K Yes it is.

[@RonGab-xd8zj]

Can cured ect severe anxiety disorder?

[@suicide-preventionresource7134]

Douglas Bloch Thank you for discussing this important, if controversial subject.

[@douggbloch]

You are welcome.

[@Furkan-dq1pf]

I have had ect for anxiety and panic attacks after the treatments anxiety and panic attacks were gone but headaches started which never stoped what can i do about this???

[@DouglasBloch]

Definitely talk to your doctor about those and see what he or she can do. You should also talk to the person who performed the ECT.

[@johnwadsworth7086]

Rebooting the brain

[@Whatsarfrosty]

Thanks for sharing your video.

[@DouglasBloch]

You’re welcome. I’m glad it was helpful

[@veryskeptical2409]

I just had my first ECT and it came as quite a shock.

[@MungusBox]

very skeptical Good one

[@evertbjorklund9750]

I am a women from sweden have panickattaks and anxyeti Evert morning and Every Day, pain in my body and in my head.i slep every naith but in The morning is The same ting.im so tre becus i dont fel like sleping. I cant cop enymor.

[@danpreston7597]

Evert Björklund. I'm suffering from the exact same symptoms and illness as you. I'm 38 and from the UK and my life has been unbearable for the past 8 months and ive lost my ability to cope. I no longer enjoy anything and my life has become very difficult. Let's just hope and pray that with time we will recover again. Sending you healing thoughts and my best wishes.

[@tommythomas7139]

Thank you so much for posting your video. I have severe major depression, which I have struggled with for over a decade. I want to go ahead with ECT, but I am worried that if I have shock therapy for the first time and feel a lot better after 1 shock, that I will be forced to get 8-10 shocks just because that is how many they usually give. I want to be able to stop after one if I want to stop after one. Do you know a hospital where the staff actually listen to the patient and they don't force you into having a set number just because that is how many they like to do?

[@DouglasBloch]

Have this conversation with your doctor before you start. If you feel better quickly, tell your doctor and perhaps he will stop. But it usually takes a number of sessions to make it stick..

[@kingEbs2023]

Quick question sir. Do you think this can help someone that is possibly insane?

[@DouglasBloch]

I’m not quite sure what you mean by insane. But he said he can definitely help somebody with bad depression

[@kingEbs2023]

@@DouglasBloch erm sociopath or psychopath tendencies

[@robroy4137]

What if you had 12 treatments with no success whatsoever would you still consider doing maintenance treatments?? Thank you

[@DouglasBloch]

I believe that maintenance treatments are done only if there is improvement. You might want to talk to your doctor about that. Also sometimes the effects of ECT occur after the treatments. Hang in there.

[@robroy4137]

Douglas Bloch Oh thank you for that slimmer of hope because I’m feeling pretty depressed and hopeless right now thank you so much for taking time in responding goodbye

[@fredgomez9749]

it amazes me how people can let another person diagnose them with a mental disorder when the human brain is one of the most complex and baffling organ we have in our bodys. To understand how the brain fully funtions and works will always be a mystery. in my eyes and opinion there are many people who get caught in the spiderwebs of the psychiatric business. the only way to truly over come any personal mental issues . (In which case we all have) is to be your own psychologists and figure out the best way for you to overcome them. Minus the costly meds and shock therapy! thats just my opinion on the whole situation.

[@DouglasBloch]

I agree that the brain is complex but a diagnosis can sometimes be helpful. My nephew was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and they found some good meds for him. In addition, he has to do the self-introspection that you recommend, as medication alone is not sufficient.

[@scottcupp8129]

Not one of the most complex. It is the most complex. IT is more complex than anyone could ever know. it can rewire itself in 10 to the 10 million ways. There are more connections than there are stars in the galaxy. It is just amazing. Beyond amazing. Nearly infinitely complex. May as well be infinite in that regards as we will never know how it ever works. It is one of a kind for sure.

[@DouglasBloch]

@@scottcupp8129I agree, but we still have to try to alleviate suffering, even with our imperfect knowledge.

[@scottcupp8129]

@@DouglasBloch Very true.

[@radybeek3595]

Sir,,, I need to do it plz

[@DouglasBloch]

Talk to a medical doctor to get an evaluation.

[@MrFilmfan86]

Can ect erase months or years of information or memories from the brain?

[@DouglasBloch]

Not in my case and in other peoples cases. The memory loss is short-term memory and it usually centers around the time that the treatment was done

[@MrFilmfan86]

@@DouglasBloch I see, I have alot of things I've learned and experienced that I'd like to have erased. Your saying ect can't go back very far?

[@DouglasBloch]

Every person is different. You should talk to a Doctor that specializes in treating people using ECT.

[@MrFilmfan86]

@@DouglasBlochIf or when it's get to that point, I will definitely do that. Thank you!

[@danstrachan4189]

I dont understand, in this video you declare that you have never had ECT, yet you did a whole video about your own ECT experience? please could someone clarify?

[@DouglasBloch]

I can clarify. I made this video in November of 2014. At that time, I had not had ECT and did not expect to. Then in 2015 I experienced a major depressive episode. In January of 2016 I was hospitalized and received ECT. So the ECT experience occurred AFTER I made the video. I hope this clarifies things.

[@danstrachan4189]

certainly does Douglas thank you, and thank you for being an inspiration :)

[@aishaali751]

Does ECT work for insomnia? ,Anwer please

[@DouglasBloch]

It would work for insomnia, if the insomnia were caused by severe depression. You should talk to a Doctor Who specializes in ECT

[@aishaali751]

@@DouglasBloch thank you very much

[@aishaali751]

@@DouglasBloch but how i can know if my insomnia caused by severe depression?

[@aishaali751]

@@DouglasBloch what it caussed by OCD

[@Hsteel]

Hey did u try the ECT for insomnia?? Has anything helped ur insomnia ??

[@fontana33]

I want to go tru ECT again. Is there truth that we cant have it yearly. Possible memory loss?

[@DouglasBloch]

You can have ECT if you need it. Some people go on maintenance ECT once a month. Check with your doctor.

[@gregrhodes2171]

I have anxiety about it after I have done s single treatment. I'm terrifird that I'll forget something. I blame the net for that.

[@DouglasBloch]

Tell yourself all will be well. And talk to the person who is doing the ECT treatments about your anxiety.

[@gregrhodes2171]

@@DouglasBloch thank you.

[@nazaninali5418]

Hi there how did the ect go? (:

[@ansarabbas6642]

Sir is it effective for antisocial personality disorder?

[@ansarabbas6642]

I have a negative feeling experience with a child

[@DouglasBloch]

ECT is not designed for that condition. Please consult a psychiatrist to find out What treatment you should seek

[@scottcupp8129]

I've heard it is like an electrical lobotomy. Like medications though, it is affective for some and not others. I have severe depression and have considered it but I'm still a bit afraid of it.

[@DouglasBloch]

ECT is nothing like a lobotomy. A lobotomy takes away a person's independence and personality. It causes permanent damage to the brain. ECT restores a person's personality and gives him or her a second chance in life. I have seen a dozen people, including myself, go through the procedure and be healed of their depression. It doesn't work all of the time, but it is far more effective than antidepressants.

[@DLopez1983]

I was scared also. But it’s been 20 years of trying everything (yes, even hypnosis if you can imagine) but nothing. The last 3 years have escalated severely and my family has tried so hard to hang in there w me. We are at the ECT point. And honestly, 2 years ago I was scared of the word... now I’m totally ready. Im a little nervous still but to have my life back and give my kids and husband their mom and wife back... the risk is worth it. Oh to be NORMAL! I don’t even remember what that feels like anymore. Bring it on. 👍🏼

[@bigjohnson9606]

@@DouglasBloch I want to try this but am so scared it will do permanent damage?

[@KatinaLifeCoach4444]

@@DouglasBloch thank you for honest comment 💪🏿🥰🙏🏾

[@KatinaLifeCoach4444]

@@DLopez1983 yes GOD Bless praying GOD 🙏🏾 STRENGTH for your recovery.

[@versatilehumanbeing6013]

Suffering from sexual intrusive thoughts from 2 years 😖😖 should I opt for ect as I am having sexual ocd My thoughts are killing me day by day

[@linasbutcher7623]

LMAO! That's normal for you guys isn't it? Have you ever tried a cold shower? Or maybe better yet...getting a therapist to work with. Because you sound like you need one. Just make sure it's a male psychologist though. But typically though E.C.T is for people with Severe Depression. But you still need help. I would suggest a sex therapist.

[@floatingchimney]

+Linas Butcher You're being kind of rude by laughing at his real pathological issue. Not that I judge you anything, but this is a typical response from an everyday person in the world. E.g. people thing that depressed people are just faking it or are ungrateful and spoiled.

[@mbvrmbvr4395]

Just think that's not ur thoughts...like a movie..just see it in and leave it...

[@kyliemoore477]

Could you comment on Dr. John Breedings video on ECT @psyche truth ? And the Damages Ect does

[@DouglasBloch]

I haven't read it. All I know is that in fifteen years of practice, I have not seen ECT cause damage in my clients, my other and myself.

[@scottcupp8129]

And it is controversial for good reason

[@veryskeptical2409]

Giving a person a seizure by sending electricity through a persons brain. That should make anyone happy.