Explaining ECT: Breaking the stigma on mental health treatment for depression, bi-polar disorder

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YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IT CALLED ELECTRO SHOCK THERAPY, BUT COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO’S LOOKING TO HELP BREAK THE STIGMA SURROUNDING THIS MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT MODERN ECT IS PURPOSEFULLY IT’S NOT TORTURE LIKE SO MANY MOVIES DEPICT GATHER WILSON HAS BEEN GETTING ELECTROCONVULSIVE TREATMENT. HORRY CT SINCE 2015 SHE HAS TYPE ONE BIPOLAR DISORDER WITH PSYCHOSIS. SHE SAYS ECT HELPS AND SHE WANTED TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS. I EXPERIENCED VISUAL AND AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS. DURING EPISODES AND THAT CAN BE SCARY. BU ECT ECT THROUGH THERAPY AND THROUGH MEDICATION NOW. STARTED TO CONTROL MY HALLUCINATIONS. DR. BRYANT BURN AT THE CAROLINA CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EXPLAINS HOW IT WORKS SMALL ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS PASSED THROUGH THE BRAIN TO TRIGGER A VERY BRIEF SEIZURE WHICH CREATES BRAIN CHEMISTRY CHANGES IN THE ENTIRE BRAIN THAT HELPED TREAT. A VARIETY OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS A PATIENT IS UNDER ANESTHESIA. SO THEY DON’T FEEL THE CONTROLLED SEIZURE SOME MAY WAKE UP WITH A HEADACHE OR SOME TEMPORARY MEMORY LOSS. DR. BYRNE SAYS FOR SOME ECT HELPS MENTAL HEALTH MEDICATIONS WORK BETTER AND FOR OTHERS THE TREATMENT IS A WAY TO FIND RELIEF IF PRESCRIPTION ANTIDEPRESSANTS AREN’T EFFECTIVE. AND YOU’RE REALLY SITTING LOW AND NOT WANTING TO LIVE ANYMORE OR STRUGGLING WITH YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE. YOU DON’T WANT TO WAIT SIX WEEKS TO SEE IF A MEDICATION IS GOING TO WORK. DON’T BE SCARED TO ASK FOR HELP. IT’S OKAY TO HAVE RECITAL THOUGHTS BUT SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER. HAVING TRIED IT TWICE I CAN TELL YOU IT’S NOT THE ANSWER. AND JUST THERE IS HELP OUT THERE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HELP YOU IN GREER, SO

Doctors describe the modern process as painless and peaceful.

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