Treatments for Mental Illness – Part Two: TMS, VNS, Deep Brain Stimulation & ECT
From the first post: People often ask me about what treatments I have received for my mental illness. Good question. First and foremost,...
I've been on a journey for mental health my whole life. I've gotten knocked down and then back up. I've done the work. I have good days and bad. The journey continues - thanks for coming along with me!
So, most people start an “About the Author” by dutifully reciting their education credentials. If you're curious about said details, I have an undergraduate degree in English and history as well as a Juris Doctorate, both from the University of Michigan, both in the ’90s.
But the nitty-gritty, important – and dare I say relevant – stats are 100 and 200, 15 and 2.
What??
Let me explain. This blog is (mostly) about suicide resilience, and those numbers mean something to me; they stand for my struggles, my efforts to improve (or at times to salvage) my mental health.
100: The number of times I have been hospitalized.
200: The number of different psychotropic medications I have been prescribed.
15: The number of times I have undergone electroconvulsive therapy sessions (not including the dozens of Transcranial Magnetic Therapy treatments).
2: The number of times I attempted to end my life.
I am no expert in anything but my own experience, and it is my hope that you gain something by reading about my struggles, my failures, and, yes, my successes. Because the Beast that is suicidality must be beaten back, put in its cage – only then can you really start to live.
Need support on your journey or just want to say, "Hello?"
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