tomorrow: my first ECT treatment

[Not Heidi]

(ECT: electro-convulsive therapy)

My current dance with extreme depression started in November, when our lease wasn't renewed and we had two months to get out - and to come up with apx $10k moving expenses. Thanks to my sister's pleading (and appealing to the landlord's common sense), we got a year's extension. But the depression brought on by that instant stress and anxiety has lingered - in fact it's grown worse. Far worse. I haven't been this depressed since my first mental health crisis put me in the hospital almost 37 years ago.

I had been begging my psychiatrist, in every appointment since November, to change my meds to something stronger. She put me off month after month, seeming to me to be overly cautious. But at my last appointment she reminded me that we've discussed ECT, which has a good track record with depression that's resistant to other treatments.

Tomorrow is my first treatment, and I'm very nervous. Almost scared.

If you've had ECT, please tell me from your experience what I can expect. Thank you.