What ever happened to...

[pomba gira]

Just read an interesting article -the FDA has approved an electric brain stimulator for treatment of severe intractable depression.... it's an implanted device (kind of like a pacemaker) that delivers shocks to the vagus nerve. Apparently this has been used for seizure disorders with success. Personally, I think the research on this is a little dicey... they would have to come up with a much more solid success rate before I'd recommend this.

That said, Crank, I have to agree with the others who've said that your being on here communicating, puts you in a high functioning level way beyond one that would indicate ECT. Of course I don't know you but it sounds to me like you are mainly dealing with situational depression right now, with chronic depression running in the background as it were. I have to agree w/Rozzlyn that: no pills or zaps are going to make that go away. My own feeling is that when meds don't work for people it's often (not always) 'cos they are expecting too much from the meds. In my experience what meds do is give you the space to work through things, and keep you from falling into the real heavy-duty depressive downspiral of despair. (godz, I REALLY didn't do that on purpose!). You still have to do the work yourself, hopefully with the help of a good therapist or spiritual/life counselor.

Good advice from Troy too, about "being cheerful just for the sake of being cheerful". I call it "faking it till it's real"... & it really does work if you're persistent. They're finding out all kinds of stuff about how laughter, facial expressions, even body postures can affect brain chemistry... so pay close attention to the messages your physical self is sending to your brain.

Just don't stop trying sweetie... things can get better... if I was able to get out from under lifelong depression, anyone can. It isn't easy but it is doable and worth it.