“You go in, you got your hospital gown, they knock you out, strap you down, put a bite guard on your mouth, electrocute you,” she said. “It helps with the neuroplasticity in your brain. If I’m not mistaken, it still is the leading most effective form of depression treatment.”
That is her description, rather than the clinical terminology. The American Psychiatric Association and the National Institute of Mental Health describe ECT as a controlled electrical stimulus that produces a brief seizure while the patient is under general anaesthesia and given a muscle relaxant. Calling it simple “electrocution” leaves out several rather important details.
Jackson said she underwent nine sessions across three weeks. That schedule falls within standard acute treatment practice. Medical guidance says a typical course often involves six to 12 sessions, usually delivered two or three times a week.
ECT is generally considered for severe, treatment-resistant or life-threatening depression, including situations involving an immediate risk of suicide. Medical organizations regard it as a highly effective option for certain severe conditions, though the decision depends on the patient’s circumstances, potential benefits and possible adverse effects.
Why did the first sessions feel so painful?
Jackson said the first treatments were painful while clinicians worked out how much medication she needed afterward. She specifically mentioned Tylenol and Toradol.
“The first time I woke up, and it was the most sharp pain I have ever experienced inside of my head,” she said. “It’s soreness from getting electrocuted.”
Headaches and confusion are recognized short-term effects of ECT. They can be treated with pain medication, although Jackson’s description suggests her initial reaction was particularly intense.
She also reported serious disruption to her memory. On some days, she said, she felt “completely not in my head at all” and could not remember friends visiting her.
“I have evidence that a friend came by because she brought me a bag of vapes,” Jackson said, adding that this happened before she stopped vaping. “But I don’t remember her being here at all. I don’t remember the conversations we had.”
Memory loss is among ECT’s best-known risks. The National Institute of Mental Health lists confusion and memory problems as possible adverse effects, while Yale Medicine says some memories from before treatment may never return. The severity and duration vary between patients.
Why did she decide to stop treatment?
Jackson said she saw results from ECT but chose not to continue after being presented with what she understood as two long-term options: remain on two medications indefinitely or return for monthly maintenance sessions.
“And I’m like, ‘that’s not going to f**king work for me,’” she said.
Clinical guidance presents a less rigid set of possibilities. After a successful course, relapse prevention may involve medication, psychological treatment, maintenance ECT or a combination. When maintenance treatment is used, the interval can range from weekly sessions to one appointment every few months.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends medication or psychological therapy following successful ECT. It also says treatment should stop when a patient reaches stable remission or when adverse effects outweigh the benefits. In other words, long-term care is supposed to be individualized, rather than a stark lifetime choice between tablets and a monthly electrical procedure.
Jackson’s account remains a personal description of a difficult treatment period, not a universal ECT experience. Still, her reported pain and memory loss match documented risks, while the number and frequency of her sessions align with standard clinical practice.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or emotional distress in the UK or Ireland, Samaritans can be reached free and confidentially at 116 123, 24 hours a day. If there is an immediate danger, contact emergency services.
