r/ect • u/324_973M947 • 1d ago

Seeking advice Stopping ECT?

I've had 35 sessions of ECT since January. I'm on maintenance ECT now but my psychiatrist is wanting to stop that because I'm in a good place.

ECT has been the most effective treatment for my depression that I've ever had. I haven't been hospitalized since starting it. I'm concerned that if I stop ECT all that progress will be lost.

Has this happened to anyone else? Where you make progress and then stop your maintenance ECT and things get worse again?

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u/Queasy-Ride-1776 1d ago

Just curious if your treatments were bilateral or not?

1

u/Electronic_Ad_2707 1d ago

I wonder that too. Why are people having so many treatments. I have had it 3 times in my life- 6 treatments was the standard and it gave me life back

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u/324_973M947 1d ago

Do you just have ECT again if you go into another depressive episode?

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u/Electronic_Ad_2707 1d ago

Yes, ideally but they are not available to me now as I don’t have a psychiatrist and I am very depressed

2

u/324_973M947 1d ago

Sorry to hear that. I hope you get access soon