Supporting and promoting the well-being of mental health carers and their families.
Mental Health Carers Austalia.
Our stories
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05-05-2014 04:39 PM
05-05-2014 04:39 PM
Our stories
When my grandmother had her first seriously depressive episode and as an 18 year old I was the only family member in the same city, I was asked at the hospital if it was OK to give her ECT. I was so upset that it was up to me to decide. I talked with her and she was terrified. I remembered a friend had been a nursing sister and talked to her about it. I wish I had known other carers and had a place like this to ask about the experiences of others. It would have reassured me and most importantly my lovely grandmother and helped us make the right choice.
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05-05-2014 05:16 PM
05-05-2014 05:16 PM
Re: Our stories
You were so young to have to make such a big decision and I really feel for you! I'm a carer, a mum, and I still find it difficult to make these decisions. It really helps to chat to other carers and find out what experiences they have had.
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05-05-2014 05:55 PM
05-05-2014 05:55 PM
Re: Our stories
I have not had ECT myself but I always understood it was only appropriate in cases of severe suicidal depression???? ECT really wipes out people's short term memories and it's processes can be quite frightening ie to be restrained and given stupifying sedatives and then afterwards not being able to remember what happened???? ECT is a very old treatment modality and is best left as a relic of the past but maybe there are other views out there?
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05-05-2014 07:23 PM
05-05-2014 07:23 PM
Re: Our stories
I understand how you must have felt. My first introduction to mental illness in a close family member occurred in 1974 and there was no help available. I truly believed my sister was 'possesse'd as I had no understanding of mental illness at all.I am sorry you had to go through this at such a young age.
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05-05-2014 07:53 PM
05-05-2014 07:53 PM
Re: Our stories
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05-05-2014 09:36 PM
05-05-2014 09:36 PM
Re: Our stories
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06-05-2014 10:09 AM
06-05-2014 10:09 AM
Re: Our stories
Hi Everyone,
Thanks @itwillbeok for starting this discussion.
We do hope that these forums will offer a space for people who are in similar situations, to feel supported.
@geronimo - as you mentioned, ECT does have quite a history. If anyone would like to read more about how & why ECT is used as a treatment, you can check out this factsheet. Treatments such as ECT can seem quite daunting, but healthcare professionals can be really helpful to discuss treatment options with.
NikNik
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06-05-2014 11:21 AM
06-05-2014 11:21 AM
Re: Our stories
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07-05-2014 08:09 AM
07-05-2014 08:09 AM
Re: Our stories
ECT today is VERY different to its use in previous decades. I've met depression sufferers who swear by it's eficacy and reported no problems with discomfort during or after the procedures. I personally find the concept pretty scary but this is based on exposure to films depicting how the treatment was administered decades ago, in a dramatised context, and not based on information from medicos about what the treatment consists of today, or the data around its benefits. I'd suggest anyone considering this treatment discuss it with their psychiatrist to get the lastest accurate information about it.
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19-01-2017 03:29 AM
19-01-2017 03:29 AM
Re: Let's talk about Grief & Loss
This comment has been moved by a moderator to another part of the forum where it might be more easily found by the community.