Why do you have to decide by Tuesday? I know that's when you see your psychiatrist, but can't you see him and say you need more information and more time to think about it? Or are you so at risk that your psychiatrist needs to do something very soon?
I would read the information leaflet from Mind about the ECT, and then speak to your psychiatrist in depth on Tuesday about what it involves.
I would be a bit wary about researching it on the internet, as with anything you will find lots of negative comments amongst the positive ones. If I read the comments about all of the treatments I've had I would have been too scared to try them, but I've never experienced side effects.
I don't have personal experience of ECT however I've have heard two stories anecdotally.
One was from my Dad who knew someone with severe depression. She had ECT and he said afterwards she no longer suffered with the depression that was so deblitating and it gave her her life back.
The second was part of the Bedlam documentary last year I think. It featured a woman who was admitted to the psych ward- she couldn't speak or dress herself or really do anything. She kept making noises and sleeping all of the time. The doctors weren't really sure what was going on for her, and after the medication they tried her on didn't really work they opted for a course of ECT. Honestly the difference was remarkable. She went from a complete zombie back to a 'normal' human. She was talking, walking, making jokes, perfectly happy and she was discharged. The ECT brought her out of whatever it was she was in. I think they said it might have been a fugue state.
Personally I think that if it's come down to the fact that you are not functioning and are suicidal then you don't have anything left to lose, you're at rock bottom, and so I'd give the ECT a try.
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