Life After ECT

Life After ECT Inc.
  • 4.2 (5)
  • NON-PROFIT

The Life After ECT podcast explores the often-overlooked realities of Electroconvulsive Therapy. Hosted by Anna, who experienced psychiatric treatment in childhood and ECT as a teen, the show examines life after treatment through first-hand perspectives, recovery experiences, and patient advocacy. Topics include long-term effects, informed consent, and the challenges of recovery. For those considering ECT, recovering from it, or supporting someone you love, this podcast offers real conversations about what comes after. For informational purposes only.

  1. 175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored – Part 3

    12/31/2025

    175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored – Part 3

    In this episode, we close out this series by exploring how harm from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been discussed—and often dismissed—over time. We trace patient experiences from the 1950s through the patient-rights movement, and talk about how informedconsent came to shape what happens after patients report problems. We explore what it looks like when ECT recipients do get testing, how patients are described in early research and modern textbooks, and end with unanswered emails from ECT survivors asking for evaluation—and what that silence tells us. Content Warnings Forced ECT Abuse Medical gaslighting Feel free to skip this episode if these topics are distressing to you. Fair Use Disclaimer This episode includes brief excerpts from copyrighted books, publications, podcasts, and public records for purposes of commentary, criticism, education, and public interest journalism under fair use (Section107, U.S. Copyright Act). This episode discusses medical practices, patient experiences, and systemic issues in healthcare for educational purposes. All cited materials remain the property of their respective copyright holders.This use is transformative and does not substitute for the original works. We encourage listeners to support the original creators. SHOW NOTES & RESOURCES https://drive.google.com/file/d/10k5c4FGMbwAS-oCdIe9x0bmxYF4MmFYC/view?usp=sharing Life After ECT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research.Learn how you can support our work. 🎵 Music Credits: Intro/Outro:"Naya Instrumental" by Tomh Artist:@tomh_music Track:https://soundcloud.com/tomh_music/naya-instrumental Used under free license with attribution #Breakingcodesilence #ISeeYouSurvivor

    1h 23m

  2. 09/22/2025

    175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored - Part 2 (Video)

    Why are people harmed by ECT so often ignored — even when they reach out directly to researchers? Content Warnings: Brief mention if abuse and suicide. In this episode, we continue reading emails from injured ECT patients who reached out to government-funded researcher Harold Sackeim, only to have their pleas for help ignored. Sackeim had publicly invited people experiencing memory problems after ECT to contact him—but, according to author Linda Andre, he later testified that he discarded 175 of those messages. Through these stories, we dig deeper into the history of why people harmed by ECT are so often not beleived.  this is for educational purposes only. I’m not a medical professional, and nothing here should be taken as medical advice. I’m sharing my understanding of the public record and other published works on this topic. Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C_PesMA4_CFCPkLXojJWSjP8ipq9SGTGo2r5KBeo5Oo/edit?usp=sharing 🎵 Music Credits: Intro/Outro: "Naya Instrumental" by Tomh Artist: @tomh_music Track: https://soundcloud.com/tomh_music/naya-instrumental Used under free license with attribution

    31 min
  3. 175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored - Part 2

    09/18/2025

    175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored - Part 2

    In this episode, we continue reading emails from injured ECT patients who reached out to government-funded researcher Harold Sackeim, only to have their pleas for help ignored. Sackeim had publicly invited people experiencing memory problems after ECT to contact him—but, according to author Linda Andre, he later testified that he discarded 175 of those messages. Through these stories, we dig deeper into the history of why people harmed by ECT are so often dismissed and disbelieved. Show Notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C_PesMA4_CFCPkLXojJWSjP8ipq9SGTGo2r5KBeo5Oo/edit?usp=sharing Life After ECT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research. Learn how you can support our work.

    31 min
  4. 175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored - Part 1

    08/26/2025

    175 Voices a Leading ECT Researcher Ignored - Part 1

    In this episode, we revisit a 2010 FDA letter by Linda Andre, and emails from ECT survivors who reached out to goverment funded researcher, Harold Sackeim, for help. Sackeim had publicly invited people experiencing memory problems after ECT to contact him—but according to Linda Andre, he later testified that he discarded messages from 175 patients who wrote to him asking for help. Show Notes https://docs.google.com/document/d/1https://docs.google.com/document/d/1csy4Ah-34c0TIkilOpNBFfXHiQ72fLYgRLHTMk0NBSQ/edit?usp=sharing Life After ECT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research. Learn how you can support our work.

    20 min
  5. Identity Loss after ECT

    12/23/2024

    Identity Loss after ECT

    This video is for anyone who feels like they lost a part of themselves after ECT. I want to give voice to the unseen challenges so many face after electroconvulsive therapy. Many who’ve had ECT are living with undiagnosed, untreated disabilities—struggling to find acknowledgment and support. The aftermath of ECT can be life-changing, impacting everything—identity, career, and relationships. I created this video essay to process my own experience of becoming disabled after ECT. My hope is that it will help you know that your experience is real and you are not alone. This video was originally uploaded to YouTube in 2016. ResourcesGrief After ECT: ⁠https://lifeafterect.com/disenfranchised-grief-the-unseen-pain-of-those-disabled-by-electroconvulsive-therapy-ect/⁠ Resources: ⁠https://lifeafterect.com/resources/ ⁠ECT Stories: ⁠https://lifeafterect.com/ect-stories/⁠ Learn how you can help all who undergo ECT live their best life by supporting reforms that will ensure informed consent, rehab if recipients need it, and more https://www.change.org/p/standardize-regulate-audit-shock-treatments-electroconvulsive-therapy-or-ect⁠ ------------ Life After ECT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research. ⁠https://lifeafterect.com/donate⁠

    3 min

  6. 12/23/2024

    Identity Loss after ECT (The Ghosts of ECT)

    This video is for anyone who feels like they lost a part of themselves after ECT. I want to give voice to the unseen challenges so many face after electroconvulsive therapy. Many who’ve had ECT are living with undiagnosed, untreated disabilities—struggling to find acknowledgment and support. The aftermath of ECT can be life-changing, impacting everything—identity, career, and relationships. I created this video essay to process my own experience of becoming disabled after ECT. My hope is that it will help you know that your experience is real and you are not alone. This video was originally uploaded to YouTube in 2016. Resources Grief After ECT: https://lifeafterect.com/disenfranchised-grief-the-unseen-pain-of-those-disabled-by-electroconvulsive-therapy-ect/Resources: https://lifeafterect.com/resources/ ECT Stories: https://lifeafterect.com/ect-stories/ Get Involved Learn how you can help support people harmed by ECT https://www.change.org/p/standardize-regulate-audit-shock-treatments-electroconvulsive-therapy-or-ect ------------ Life After ECT Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research. https://lifeafterect.com/donate

    3 min

  7. 12/07/2024

    Victory! David Russel Forced ECT Update

    12/6/24 Update: David Russel has been released! The following is an update on forced drugging and ECT hearings. Content Warnings: Forced psychiactric treatment/ ECT Show Notes Life After ECT, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of those harmed by ECT through advocacy, education, and research. Learn how you can support our work.

    4 min

  8. 09/25/2024

    Does ECT have a place in Modern Medicine?

    Does Electroconvulsive Therapy have a place in 21st century evidence-based medicine? The following is a Presentation by Professor John Read given in March 2024. Dr. John Read is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of East London. He has published over 180 research papers and in 2022 was listed in Stanford University's register of the top 2% most cited researchers in the world. He has published six reviews of the ECT research literature (including four in peer-reviewed journals) and made multiple commentaries on the research. His most recent peer-reviewed review of the ECT literature was a 40-page paper, in 2019, written with Professor Irving Kirsch, Associate Director of Placebo Studies at Harvard Medical School. He is also the lead researcher on two independent audits of the administration and monitoring of ECT in England's Health Service and co-author of three studies of the accuracy of information provided to ECT patients and their families. https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/staff/john-read⁠ His latest research: https://lifeafterect.com/participate-in-groundbreaking-research-share-your-experience-with-electroconvulsive-therapy-in-the-sectaff-survey/ This presentation was in colaboration with Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) https://www.nlb.ie/campaigns/mental-health Full presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY5CTuMbW2w&t=2s

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.2
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Life After ECT podcast explores the often-overlooked realities of Electroconvulsive Therapy. Hosted by Anna, who experienced psychiatric treatment in childhood and ECT as a teen, the show examines life after treatment through first-hand perspectives, recovery experiences, and patient advocacy. Topics include long-term effects, informed consent, and the challenges of recovery. For those considering ECT, recovering from it, or supporting someone you love, this podcast offers real conversations about what comes after. For informational purposes only.

Information

  • Creator
    Life After ECT Inc.
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Life After ECT Inc.
  • Show Website
    Life After ECT