This message is not about whether or not ECT is a good thing; it's for
people who have had it (or are about to) and are looking for kind of
support group. FYI: I'm going to do everything I can to start a
real-life support group (in the Los Angeles area - let me know if
you're in the neighborhood and are interested).

My experience with ECT is that there is absolutely NO aftercare. When
your session (or sessions if you're inpatient) is over, you are sent
home with someone who signs a hospital form promising they'll stay with
you for 24 hours. That's it. The point of an aftercare group is to
share experiences, memory issues, coping skills, whatever - maybe get
some questions answered and maybe get some real-life help.

I believe that when a person goes home after getting ECT that they
should have the option of getting in-home help for at least 2 weeks.
Someone to assist with the life/house stuff that's really difficult
when you can't remember where the market is. It's cruel and
irresponsible for the practitioners of ECT to not include this kind of
support in the ECT process; I got incredibly depressed in the daily
struggle of trying to run my life with almost no memory.

If I had a group where I could've asked people who were maybe a couple
of months ahead of me what to expect; if there was a place to share
coping tools (like Mapquest wherever you go - even if you THINK you
know where it is); if someone could've come over to help me with my
bills and laundry and other stuff that was extra difficult post-ECT; if
there was just some comfort and support...I would've had a much better
experience. As it is, the only thing good about the experience is that
in starting a support group like this I can hopefully help a whole
bunch of people avoid the hell that I went through and in doing so,
provide a better chance for permanent recovery.

So...I'd love your feedback. If you are planning on getting ECT, there
are things you can do to make your post-ECT experience much better
(like write all your passwords and pin #'s down!). If you've had ECT,
I'd like to hear what you would personally find helpful in an aftercare
situation. Like I said, I live in Los Angeles, so if any of you live in
the area and are interested in a "real" group, please let me know.

Thank you and take care.