Tag: ECT

A New Adventure

Last week I began what I’d like to think of as a new adventure.

If you have read some of my previous posts, you may remember that I wrote about a treatment called ECT, or Electro-convulsive Therapy, that I underwent. It was a long process spanning numerous months, and it was not pleasant. In total I received forty treatments. The treatments did help with my depression, but they also affected my short and long term memory. Because of this I had to stop the treatments.

Well, it’s been a while since I finished ECT, and my depression is still very much lingering. So I decided to try a new treatment called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS. My psychiatrist recommended this for me as it has very few side effects (if any), and combined with his instruction in mindfulness, it could possibly help with my memory issues. So after praying about it and seeking advice, I decided to move forward.

I started the treatments last Friday, and I have a treatment each weekday, so I’ve already had five treatments. My psychiatrist said I should start seeing results around the tenth treatment – so I’m looking forward to that.

Just wanted to share this new journey that I am undertaking, and to ask for prayer. I truly appreciate everyone’s love and encouragement. ❤

 

Photo by: Crystal Knauss

Thankful Thursday (episode 2)

Last week I began a habit that I wanted to continue: focusing on being grateful by recording three things that I’m thankful for each day. Well, I did okay with this, but not great. I tried using an app, the Five Minute Journal, to help me keep track of my gratitude list, but I would forget to write in it! Then a day would pass without my recording anything, and because of my memory loss from ECT (electro-convulsive therapy – it can help with depression), I would forget the things that I was thankful for. *sigh*

But not to fear! I am going to keep trying. The app has the option for sending you reminders, so I’m going to see if that helps me. And if it doesn’t, then maybe I could try keeping a physical journal. I just have to find what works for me. 🙂

Anyway, I WAS able to record a few things that I’m thankful for, so without further ado, here is my list:

  1. A fairly good appointment with my Psychiatrist
  2. Safety while traveling in the rain
  3. The opportunity to bring free drinks and a cookie from Chick-fil-a to Target for Roy’s (my Hubby’s) work break so we could enjoy them together
  4. A nice time at Barnes and Noble with the Hubby
  5. My Mom helped me with picking out a meal for Monday night (our good friends come over to share a meal before our handbell practice)
  6. We had a good time at dinner and handbells (the dinner turned out fine even though I was worried about making it, and we had a profitable rehearsal)
  7. Drinks at Dunkin’ Donuts…woo-hoo!
  8. Mild weather…I was able to take a nice walk with the dog
  9. A beautiful sunset
  10. That God helped me with work, as I wasn’t feeling very well

That’s it for this week! Hopefully I will do better next week with keeping my list. 😉 Thank you for reading! ❤

Out of the Pit

The last several months have been overwhelming.

I’ve been struggling a lot with depression, and I got to the point where I knew the medicines and therapy were not doing enough to help, and that I needed to try something different.

So I decided to embark on a new journey: ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy). It’s been scary, and encouraging, and frustrating, and confusing, and promising…all at the same time.

I’ve been undergoing the ECT procedure twice a week for around twelve weeks now. Unfortunately, it has affected my memory. But it does seem to have given me that extra “boost” I needed to climb out of the dark pit of depression; and for this I am grateful.

If you are struggling with depression, you are not alone. Take comfort in the fact that there are others who are walking this road with you – most importantly, Jesus Christ. He understands what we are going through, and He is right there with us to give us the strength and encouragement to take the next small step along the path that He has for us.

Photo by: James McGill