Update: This post ‘Take a Staycation Instead of Having ECT Treatments’ offended someone suffering with severe mood issues and actually came out a bit more intense than I had intended. It was meant to just give some thought to how you can do other things than potentially damaging medical treatments, not upset anyone. Followed up with (and will write more): Medical Alternatives to ECT. Peace.

And make that an extra special staycation, suited for your particular needs in healing whatever trauma or physical distress you are suffering from that is forcing you to consider getting brain damaging ECT Treatments. Please consider it at least.

I say ‘force’ as I know how horrible severe depression is or other extreme mood state such as mania and that when in a very ill state of bipolar illness you do not have proper control of your thinking or thoughts or – of course – next to nil control over how you are feeling.

Consider doing anything other than brain damaging ECT Treatments that may change the way you feel and give you a perception different than what you are suffering – or a temporary physical change that may make you feel like you are better – but you need to understand clearly it will NOT give you long-term relief most likely or a cure to your mental illness.

If a doctor or therapist is telling you that or giving you that impression they are being deceitful. If they say it is ‘safe and effective’ and won’t cause harm they are lying. Chances are high you will suffer long-term adverse affects, possibly debillitating ones.

You can educate yourself about the risk to your health you are considering taking by reading what an honest, ethical psychiatrist has to say – that is the factual truth about this brain damaging unecessary medical procedure – by clicking here: The Dangers of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

If you are feeling suicidal or having thoughts of hurting yourself it is a symptom of the distress you are feeling and not your fault. Tell someone who you trust or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline free 24 hour help number: 1-800-273-8255.

Desperation is What Forces Sufferers to Consider Getting ECT

And what brought you to this point? ECT is not the first line of treatment so what is going on is that you have most likely been on psychotropic medications and had a worsening of symptoms (but your doctor won’t share that information with you even though they most likely know that is what unfortunately happened).

Previous post: Are Your Psych Meds Making You Sick?

So brain damaging drugs didn’t help now they want to damage your brain more directly and severely with ECT – and profit grandly in the process, get many forms of payback for participating in the administration of the procedure or for recommending it to their patients. Don’t be naive to think otherwise.

Tell your unethical physician to go f’ themselves and do ANYTHING you can to get alternative forms of care. Nicely of course, while walking out the door with your brain and physical health still under your control.

If Have to Pay for ECT Treatments You Can Afford It Most Likely

But I can’t afford it is probably your first thought.

Most persons suffering from a severe state of mental distress who are also probably at the point where they have had a job loss or other losses and of course are at the end of what they feel they can humanly tolerate.

I understand. I’ve been in those exact same shoes on more than one occasion.

And when in that state of unwellness just thinking of having to manage a task such as making a temporary change to travel to a new location to experience something different that may help you to feel better can seem unsurmountable.

In most cases ECT Treatments are not free either, so use those funds on other desperate measures. ECT is a desperate measure – that should be banned so the medical community is forced to come up with safer and more effective treatments.

Have someone help you. Rent your house out for a few months and escape that dreadful weather that has increased your physical state of unwellness to where it is unbearable. There are always alternate solutions.

Related post: Medical Alternatives to ECT

You Can Do It – Refuse Electroconvulsive Therapy

You can do it. If you are capable of agreeing to ECT you are capable of making other choices.

And thank god for that, and that you are not institutionalized and being forced or coerced into having the massive profit-generating treatment of ECT and your brain potentially irreversibly damaged for life.

Inexpensive Healing Places in the U.S.

These are a few suggestions as mental distress always has physical origins of some type. You know loud and clear what you were doing did not work – so try something new.

Many who are suffering severe depression have co-existing medical conditions or are reacting to things in their environment. I’m not talking about your overly-demanding toddler or teenager or unhealthy relationship but physical things that may be causing physical distress leading to a serious depressive episode that is obviously not responding to treatment.

Previous post: Drug Resistant Bipolar Disorder

Try something new. What do you need? How about de-stressing (and detoxing) in a peaceful natural environment? Why not try it?

I recently spent a day immersed in the natural hot springs at Tecopa Hot Springs in California. It was nice – and cheap. It is only $7 for 24 hour use of tubs and you can camp for $220 for a month – add $60 to that price to have electricity at your site. Go with a partner or friend and the cost is half.

There is free WiFi on the premises, or you can pay for high-speed Internet at your campsite for an additional $100 for the month. Now during winter is typical desert weather (very cold at night, sunny during the day) and scenery – lots of solitude if you need that and is safe for women.

The town of Pahrump, Nevada with a Walmart to stock up on supplies, many restaurants and cheap gas ($1.97 per gallon for regular unleaded) is just a 45 minute drive away. And a nice, peaceful scenic drive at that.

Here is an article to get you motivated: Best Hot Springs in America

There are many places you can go. Fly to Mexico and get a dose of culture shock plus some great food and time at the beach or visiting Mayan ruins. It will be more fun even if you get sick (flu, food poisoning) and hate it – than inducing seizures in your brain and suffering the effects of the treatments.

If you are considering ECT and not currently hospitalized you are capable of making alternate choices for your self, soul and viable future. Email me and I will help you think of options if you need some ideas or need some support and encouragement.

Photograph is from this Wikipedia page and is of an electroconvulsive therapy machine on display at Glenside Museum in Bristol, England.