Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for bipolar depression: Share your questions and experiences!

Hello @Bipolarhelp‍, thank you for opening this discussion. If you haven't seen it already, we published an article about a year ago about ECT that you may find helpful: Severe depression: What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?

Let me tag some other members who can possibly share with you.

Hi everyone, how are you doing?

Have any of you done ECT for your depressive episodes? If so, can you share your experience? Has it helped? If not, is it something you would consider?
@Dahlimama2008‍ @Jakubndevinsmom48‍ @Sumguy11‍ @Kimmyhd‍ @DeAnn99‍ @Katparker‍ @felix1962‍ @Mariahlaughlin31717‍ @Samcog75‍ @sjones007‍ @Meredyth‍ @SAMCCOLM‍ @KathrinCole‍ @Tozzisr‍ @Ashleigh‍ @LRegner‍ 

Take care,
Courtney

I received it but I’m still on lithium and still hospitalized every year for suicidal thoughts for 7 days at a time. 

It did work for my depression, however I am one of the rare people who lost a lot of memories. I used to have an eidetic memory (often referred to as photographic) but not since my ECT 6 years ago. To be honest I still get flashes of new memories but not like what I was used to having. 

I had ECT 15 years ago. I lost maga amounts of memories. It still bothers me how many  memories I lost, long term & short term. The depression left, but I got manic after I left the 1 month stay in the hospital. I will not do ECT again. I'm glad it works for others.

My Aunt Joyce had ECT a lot.  She still took antidepressants  up until the day she died.  She couldn't remember hardly anything about her life.  I will never do that .  I would rather be dead. Aunt Joyce never could handle losing her husband.  She was just fine and completely without mental problems before he died.  Then she was major depressive.