Hey everybody, happy Thursday.
Now today I'm doing an FAQ and I have
two questions that I am going to answer.
And both, I haven't really talked about
that much so let's get going.
And if you are new to the channel welcome!
And how you ask me questions for a
potential video like this in the future
is below my Monday video
So the video that will come out this
coming Monday, in the comments
below you can ask a question
using the hashtag #KatiFAQ or
just hey Kati got a question
I always look through them,
I have to approve them all.
Or you can hop on my website
katiemorton.com under Kati's
videos on the tab across the top
scroll down for Q & A for videos
hit it and ask your question there.
So let's get going.
First question says
"Hey Kati, I have questions about ECT
and its side effects and/or
effectiveness. What is it like to get it
and why do they recommend it
for some people?"
Now, ECT for those of you who don't
know is Electro Convulsive Therapy.
And I'm just making sure I said that
right because when I was looking at it earlier
I kept in my head saying it wrong.
Now, ECT is something that has been used
since the 40s and 50s,
but the thing that people I think
misunderstand is how it's changed over
the years and how much more
human they've made it.
I know in the movies like if you
watch A Beautiful Mind and stuff they
have them going through ECT
and his body shaky and they
put wood in his mouth, all this
stuff, but it is very different
now than it was then, although
it is still one of the most effective
treatments for depression and the reason
that they do it is when people
have severe depression, they're a danger
to themselves, or have been in and out of
the hospital and have tried all these
treatment options and everything, and
nothing worked and the depression's
getting worse and it's just not looking
good in the future for them, they'll
offer them ECT. So ECT is something that
is usually...obviously everyone's
situation is different and if you are
extremely suicidal and they're really
worried about you, they try medication, it
doesn't help, they may refer you to ECT
earlier rather than later, but it's
usually one of the "later in the game"
kind of things that they will refer you
to do. And there are places that
specifically do ECT treatment and you'll
go there for it. Now the way that it kind
of works, I'm just reading from my notes
so I don't forget everything, is that
they place electrodes on your scalp
and a finely controlled electric current
is applied while the patient is under
general anesthesia. Now, I want to
make sure that you understand that
you're under general anesthesia. So your
muscles are completely relaxed, and your
kind of asleep, for lack of a better term.
And therefore, the only way you'd actually
know that someone that's getting ECT
nowadays, while watching them get it
done is maybe slight movements by
their hands or feet, there's no full-body
convulsion, I believe they still put
something between your teeth just
so you don't bite your tongue potentially,
but it is very much not as horrific as
they have shown in movies, it's not what
we used to think it is. It's much more
controlled and much more just
humane looking in general.
Now, the way it's usually given up to
three times a week for a total
of 2-4 weeks depending on the severity
of your depression. And what we know,
the way that it affects our brain, is it
stimulates the parts of our brain that
aren't usually producing enough dopamine
or serotonin, which is leading to our
depressive symptoms. Obviously everything
is theorized, you know, we can't look at
a brain exactly while we're doing it, but
the controlled impulses help bring us
out of depression and this has actually
one of the highest success rates of any
treatment of depression. And, so that is
what ECT is, and why they decide to
give it to certain people. Now it may...
the side effects of it, as far as I know,
and if anybody has any more information
about the side effects, let me know
because I've only had 2 patients,
well I guess...2 patients that were
mine, and when I was in the eating
disorder treatment center, we had a lot
of patients who had been through it,
and the most common is short term
memory loss. So usually around the time
you get the ECT and the actual memory of
receiving ECT may be really difficult for
you to recall. Some people get headaches
and that's about all that I've heard
from people and all that I've read about,
those are the most common.
It's not like it's wiping your memory from
forever & ever, it's usually
just right around when you receive the
treatment, people have trouble recalling
when they went in, and for how long,
and when it was, and what it was like.
So those are the two most common
it's been very successful for my
patients, so if your doctor's
recommending it I would encourage
you to go. Okay?
Now the second question,
"Hey Kati, I have a question that could
possibly be answered in one of your
upcoming videos." Well hey, here it is.
"What do you do when your parents
don't believe in or support counseling
for you? They're just like
'pray, pray, pray' and exercise.
They're constantly talking down to those
who struggle with depression
and in an indirect way, talking about me.
I hate it and I want help but I can't
get it at the moment."
That can be really, really difficult.
The best thing that I would say, if you
are young and you're underage and there's
nothing that you could really do to
get help on your own without your
parents' approval is online. That's why
katimorton.com exists,
is because not all of us can get
help when we need it and it's a great
resource to get support, to print out
worksheets and workbooks, to kind of get
your self-help game going.
Now, I would encourage you to still
reach out. Like I said before in other
videos, if you're over 12 years old,
and able to participate openly and
well in therapy, like emotionally
participate, and whatever, let's say your
parents have insurance, or the person
works on a sliding scale or you
go to a free clinic, however you're
able to get there, you're able to pay for
whatever the fee is to see the therapist,
and there's a reason to not include your
parents, like they're not supportive and
you've asked and they won't get you help.
You can still get help.
If all of those things are happening,
you can still find a therapist that
will work with you.
They're just going to ask you about
those things, and I would make sure they
know before you actually go in for the
appointment.
When you make the appointment, let them
know, but you can still get help.
And also, school counselors are a
great resource. Teachers are a great
resource. And, like I said, the online
community in general. If you have
questions about depression or
worries or things like that,
my community has been very supportive.
A lot of people have wonderful insights,
I have a ton of videos on it,
and I know that it's not always
perfect, but sometimes that's
the best we can do.
And we have to start somewhere.
So that is what I would do and I would
also start journaling as a way to
vent out what you're feeling and going
through, and know that
you're not alone.
And if any of you have, you know,
helpful websites and groups, and things,
let us know below, I know there are
a ton of resources out there and available
to those of us who need help
and support, especially in the summertime
when we maybe can't get a hold of our
school counselor.
But know that there are resources
available. There are people out there to
help, you just have to reach out
and find them.
And, the sooner the better.
I love you all, I'll see you,
I don't know, Friday or Saturday with a
journal topic. Bye!
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