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ECT: A Journey out of Darkness
Chronicles of one man's treatment for major and suicidal depression related to bi-polar disorder. 5 years after diagnosis, meds-resistant, seeking some resemblance of the former "me".
Sunday, February 25, 2007
About Me
- Name: DeMental
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas, Uzbekistan
I'm a 41 year old man with from bi-polar disorder. I was diagnosed with depression in the spring of 2001 and later diagnosed with Bi-Polar II. My illness is very medication resistant. Having run the gambit of medications, instead of an eminent suicide, I underwent electroconvulsive therapy ("ECT") at the behest of my family. Living with the many side-effects of ECT, I try, day-to-day, to figure out who the "post-ECT" Mike is, and what his capabilities and disabilities are. I spend every day trying to figure out what to make of my life from here. I am married to an amazingly strong and wonderful woman and we have two teenage children, one of whom suffers from serious mental illness (Asberger's Syndrome and Schizo-affective Disorder). I am a licensed and experienced attorney with an MBA and a degree in economics. My illness and effects of ECT prohibit me from practicing law. The effects of ECT have been helpful with respect to treating my depression, but they have compromised my intelligence, coherence and my general functionality.
Links
- Theories on Mechanism of Action of Electroconvulsive Therapy (warning: very med-technical)
- Electroconvulsive Therapy: Clinical Science Versus Controversial Perceptions
- Electroboy Website
- American Psychiatric Association Description of ET
- ECT Science
- Depression and Anxiety - Bedmates?
- Etomidate for Procedural Anesthesia
- How Swearing Works
- EEG Monitoring (Strange Science)
- Bi-Polar: A Personal Account
- Right Unilateral versus Bilateral ECT: No Clear Winner
- More Power and Bilateral Shown to Create More Effect, More Side Effect
- Older Bilateral vs Unilateral Comparisons
- Does ECT Prevent Suicide?
- Another Study: ECT & Suicide
- Good Overall Explanation of ECT and What is Known about its Mechanics
- ECT Efficacy Study: Variables that Effect Efficacy
- Basic ECT Walkthrough
- Edit-Me
- Stimulus & Efficacy
- Edit-Me
Previous Posts
- The end of a chapter, the beginning of another
- Today is the day before my 17th wedding anniversar...
- The Missing Past, the Unrememberable Present
- Finding one's self
- Update...
- Sorry for my absence...
- Rainy Sunday
- Just when it looks like all is lost...
- Eggshells...
- Better again
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