Welcome to the Life After ECT podcast! In this episode, we discuss: - The reality of forced ECT still happening today. - MindFreedom International's Shield Program, which helps protect against unwanted psychiatric treatment. - The importance of psychiatric advance directives to formally assert your treatment preferences. Learn how these resources can help you or a loved one, and how you can get involved in advocating for human rights in mental health care. Disclaimers Life After ECT Inc. is not directly affilated with Mindfreedom International -- we believe they are an invaluble human rights resource and want to make those at risk of forced treatment aware of the support they offer. About Life After ECT Inc. Life After ECT Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) charitble organazation dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by electroconvulsive therapy through education, advocacy and research. Learn more about what we do and how you can support our work: Looking to a Brighter Future for Those Harmed by ECT Show Notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FAbX1qa0Z7UQz8vN47dx22ZPHyE1x5ZanWqsiJ73cBo/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1FAbX1qa0Z7UQz8vN47dx22ZPHyE1x5ZanWqsiJ73cBo/edit?usp=sharing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Thank you for tuning into the Life After ECT Podcast. Life After ECT Inc. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organazation focused on improving the quality of life for those injured by ECT. Learn more about what we do and how you can support our work: Looking to a Brighter Future for Those Harmed by ECT Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LrUHhroyOX66T7FUQ0iytyfNoCzmqKN91PQ0LfiKeBI/edit?usp=sharing Correction: The law firm is now Wisner & Baum, not Baum Headlund --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Disenfranchised grief: the unseen pain of those disabled by electroconvulsive therapy In this podcast, I talk about the grief that people disabled by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may experience, which often goes unrecognized. I want to clarify that I am not a mental health professional but someone who has gone through this experience, sharing what has helped my ongoing recovery. (see full disclaimer) Resources mentioned in the episode: https://lifeafterect.com/disenfranchised-grief-the-unseen-pain-of-those-disabled-by-electroconvulsive-therapy-ect/ Support our mission: https://lifeafterect.com/donate/ Sign our patient safety petition: https://www.change.org/p/standardize-regulate-audit-shock-treatments-electroconvulsive-therapy-or-ect --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Linda Andre Testimony - Vermont House Bill H12, Informed consent to electroconvulsive therapy, 1999 Testimony date: 2000 ⁠⁠Links to Linda's Work⁠ If you can, please consider supporting Linda's son's GoFund me to cover funeral expenses and preserve her library of research. ⁠⁠Fundraiser by Alandra Markman : Linda Andre's Legacy (gofundme.com)⁠⁠  ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/linda-andre ) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Linda Andre Testimony - Vermont House Bill H12, Informed consent to electroconvulsive therapy, 1999 Testimony date: 2000 ⁠Links to Linda's Work If you can, please consider supporting Linda's son's GoFund me to cover funeral expenses and preserve her library of research. ⁠Fundraiser by Alandra Markman : Linda Andre's Legacy (gofundme.com)⁠  ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/linda-andre ) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

An Interview with Linda Andre by Philip Bennet, recorded several years ago (the recording date was not included in the file). In it they discuss her book, Doctors of Deception, What they Don't Want You to Know About Shock Treatment. Our community has recently suffered a great loss. Linda Andre, author of one of the most important books on ECT ever written, passed away this month. Linda was my hero. I first came across her work while desperately searching the Internet for answers when ECT damaged my brain and my doctors refused to believe me. Reading her presentation "Electroconvulsive Therapy as a Head Injury" changed my life. Her work showed me that ECT can cause permanent brain damage and those affected by ECT are routinely denied testing and rehabilitation, as was the case with me. Linda showed me the hope of recovery through the stories of people who found a way to recover when doctors couldn't help them. There is so much I want to say about Linda, but after ECT, the right words are always so hard to find. Until I can write a full tribute post I wanted to do something so I recorded a small tribute to ger along with her second inteview with Philip Bennet. In it they sumarize key points from her book. Find links and resources and tributes to Linda Andre in the show notes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Have you experienced any unexpected problems after undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? Have you faced difficulties in convincing your doctor to refer you for testing and rehabilitation? You're not alone. For over 80 years that ECT has been in use, people have reported disabling side effects. Despite decades of ECT's use, no mandatory standards have been established to ensure that individuals can receive comprehensive testing and rehabilitation if necessary. View the ⁠⁠⁠#AuditECT petition⁠⁠⁠. In 2016, there was an opportunity to address this issue when the FDA attempted to reclassify the ECT device. The FDA's proposed guidance included mandatory neuropsychological testing for those undergoing treatment. However, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a professional organization representing 36,000 psychiatric physicians, opposed the idea of mandated testing. Eventually, when the reclassification was finalized, the original proposed testing mandates were abandoned. There are people who underwent ECT many years ago and have never undergone a neuropsychological evaluation, not to mention the countless people who have recently undergone electroshock therapy. With an estimated 2 million people worldwide undergoing ECT each year, a staggering number of individuals will continue to struggle to access appropriate testing and treatment for disabilities caused by ECT and other health issues related to electrical injury. See show notes for links and resources. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

Many harmed by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) want to protect themselves from forced ECT in the future. One way to do this is by creating a psychiatric advanced directive (PAD), which is a document that outlines their wishes regarding psychiatric treatment. Content warnings: In this episode I briefly discuss forced treatment, unmodified ECT, and the limits of advanced directives. Be sure to practice self care if any of these topics are disressing to you. Learn more about psychiactric advanced directives, forced and unmodified ECT in the show notes. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

There are so many things I wish I had known before having ECT. The following are the focus of this episode: Like how my doctors would treat me after being disabled by the procedure The "new and improved" safety measures aren't as effective as advertised ECT's lasting impact on how the brain processes vision That ECT doctors don't know much about electricity or what it does to the human body Some people will experience serious disabling conditions from the electricity used to cause a seizure citations and resources 5 Things I wish I knew before having ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message

There are so many things I wish I had known before having ECT. The following are the focus of this episode: Like how my doctors would treat me after being disabled by the procedure The "new and improved" safety measures aren't as effective as advertised ECT's lasting impact on how the brain processes vision That ECT doctors don't know much about electricity or what it does to the human body Some people will experience serious disabling conditions from the electricity used to cause a seizure citations and resources ⁠5 Things I wish I knew before having ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifeafterect/message