What are your thoughts on the use of Electroshock Therapy? Do you think it helps or makes things worse?

[smahala1991]

Personally I see no use for it. What about you all?

[cth96190]

Electroconvulsive therapy has been around for generations.
I am not a fan, because every time that it is used it causes brain damage. Our brains are all that separate us from garden slugs, so anything that damages our main asset is stupid, in my opinion.
A simple explanation of the thinking behind electroconvulsive therapy is that psychiatrists and neurologists who support its use believe that it rests the brain, so can be used to break cycles of behaviour that are self reinforcing.
It is a bit like returning your mobile telephone to factor settings.
It has been offered to me as a way to treat the depression, for which I have been under psychiatric care since 2001.
I said no.

[cth96190]

factory settings

[cth96190]

resets the brain.
fucking autocorrect bullshit.

[outie40]

Since the asker gave no back up information to go on its hard to give a realistic answer to this. Each person is different so each symptom is different. Without information to go on. Sometimes meds don't always help. But what disorder are we even talking about. Just pulling one out of the sky today. Would help to have an idea before answering a auestion

[smahala1991]

Such as depression, anxiety

[outie40]

Coming from a bipolar and ADHD child now adult what works for some doesn't work for others. Get the movies out of your heads. It can and does work because it helps with spell seizures

[smahala1991]

I actually saw a documentary on YouTube. I was surprised they actually put them to sleep now for ETC

[smahala1991]

Electroshock Therapy

[April10]

I really don't know. I don't know enough about this field to be able to give a qualified answer. But from what I've read and saw, it's not something that's really practiced anymore because it does more harm than good. Or at the very best, it does nothing. I think there are better methods out there to help people

[Jehovahkiin]

etc is used as a last resort as opposed to an immediate treatment, contrary to what most might typically think. As long as it works, I wouldn't be against it. I don't think anyone here is qualified to say whether ETC is a valid form of treatment. That is best left to the experts.

[bluenose1872]

Cruel and useless. The trouble with this world is these so called experts on human behaviour, expert on family, experts on this and that and the next. Most of them only ever read about their so called specialisation never live it. Politicans telling us to tighten our belts who have never faced hardship. Judges telling you you shouldn't have hit that man and theyve never been near a fight in their lives so wouldn't know. Psychologists zapping people with electricity for no reason they could articulate. Bad world, like 1984

[Waffles731]

Electroshock therapy is actually rather helpful, it is essentially one of the two last resorts for severe depression and it IS ACTUALLY THE LESS INVASIVE OPTION as the other one is the experiment use of deep brain stimulation where they open your skull up and stick electrodes in to stimulate the brain. It is done under general anesthesia so the patient actually doesn't even feel it. Patients usually report feeling better after as well. It has saved lives

[RasmusAiken]

For some people who fail to get help on medication and are incapacitated in their depressed existence it can be truly life changing.

My mother was treated with etc and improved greatly but she complained of losing some of her memory.

[RasmusAiken]

*ECT = electroconvulsive shock therapy

[Smmyskittles]

I didn't know this was still a thing.

Not knowing much about it besides from movies/shows.

Personally, think it's barbaric. Why not just give them medication instead of shocking them?

[Walrus_au]

It should, and generally now-a-days, is only used when medication is failing the patient. When there is no other option.

Modern techniques have also lowered the current and reduced side effects.

This is not to say it is without issues, it very much is a treatment of last resort. But for those it helps, it can make a world of difference for the better.

[pooper89]

I've heard of shockwave therapy but I don't know. Electro is more for psychiatric problems?

[smahala1991]

That's what im asking about use for psychiatric reasons

[SleepingSnorlax]

I dont know of im thinking of the same thing or not lol
But when i broke my ankle my leg was all tiny after i got my cast off and at PT they hooked me up to the electro stim thing so that it could work out my muscles in my calf and leg
... whats wrong with it? am i even thinking of the right thing? Lol

[smahala1991]

Electroshock Therapy is mainly used in psychiatry

[somebodysaycheese]

Electroshock therapy actually is used in some hospitals for people who suffer from over productive sweat glands. Does it help? No idea.

[Gommers]

At this point I'm willing to try anything to make myself function as a normal person.

[Walrus_au]

It has proven value in certain treatment resistant conditions. But these are limited. And there are some grievous side effects.

[4465loveyou5577]

When I was in a mental hospital I never heard of it being used.

[randomhobo]

Its barbaric and nearly all studies into it show it is harmful and can cause more negative effects than benefits.

[stonerboner]

It's helpful for some people with depression that doesn't respond to other treatment modalities.

[DamnCurtis]

Pretty sure no one here is qualified to talk about this particular therapy.

I have no fucking idea.
Google that shit. Get facts. Done.

[Maxemeister]

it's an actual applicable treatment for many things, including depression. It's not as intense as in the movies but it's a thing.

[flypaper]

Worse. Completely against it.

[Mustachekitteh]

That just sounds like a horrible idea.

[LordBlakeh]

It's better than doing nothing. Yes I think it helps.

[MrAssHat]

looks like fun..