Duke University

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AfterShocks (…Smile) From our ECT Series

Reference cat

I am hoping to get a running stream of references for those interested in finding out more about ECT.  To start, some are:

  1. As relayed in our last blog post, check out Mayo Clinic
  2. Kitty Dukakis: Shock Therapy Saved My Life – ABC News on abcnews.go.com
  3. Kitty Dukakis And ECT – CBS News Video
  4. Kitty Dukakis And ECT video – CNET TV
  5. Katherine Kitty Dukakis on ECT | Psych Central
  6. Kitty Dukakis & Shock Therapy | World of Psychology
  7. Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy – Amazon …
  8. Kitty Dukakis Backs ECT for Depression : NPR
  9. Scientific Articles on Neurogenisis From ECT as described on PubMed
  10. Mortality Rate From ECT
  11. University of Maryland describes their understanding of ECT as a treatment option for Bipolar Mood Disorder and Depression
  12. Currently under research at Duke University, “Not-So-Deep Brain Stimulation:  Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
  13. I also really love the 1st hand words from    Here is one of her excellent statements – “No one really knows how ECT works. For the longest time everyone just said it “rebooted” the brain. Hardly scientific. What we now know is that ECT creates neurogenesis, in other words, neuron growth. And this is needed because long term depression kills brain cells and shrinks the brain. (Antidepressants also induce neurogenesis, FYI.) So ECT is able to make connections in the brain that weren’t previously there, and it makes them very, very quickly compared to any other method.”  She has done her research.
  14. Also, enjoy reading The Bipolar Badger who is going to be writing more on his experience with ECT this week (he’s promised).  The Badger says, “there is very little positive or objective is more like it out there on the interwebs. While I do not expect every post out there to be positive as not everyone has a great experience with ECT. It as important to mention positive outcomes as well.”
If you know of more, please tell us!
Be a friend to yourself.  🙂

 

 

 

 

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The Non-Dramatic Ending To Our ECT Series

Bert the Turtle

Image via Wikipedia

Not much traffic over here since drifting into electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) territory.  That’s alright.  Everything in its own time.  We got some feedback from some who didn’t find ECT helpful, some who would never be interested in ECT but not much from anyone who has found ECT helpful – and I know you are out there.  Healthy and quiet about it.  I know because I know from my patients and from the studies and statistics available.  You are there.  And you are not alone.

I was corresponding with my trusted mentor on this subject, Richard Weiner M.D., from Duke University, who has treated patients with ECT for 40+ years.  He referred us here at FriendtoYourself.com to the clean presentation by Mayo Clinic.  If you are interested in further introduction into ECT, check it out.  They have a lovely video, outline and inquiry resources.

On a slightly shifted topic, I’d like to introduce you to my friend, B.D.Erline.  This guy’s really rocking the friendship thing to yourself these days.  He’s writing and spending himself on his new, “Act-Like-You-Wanna-Live” series.  It’s brilliant.  Say hello if you’d like.

That’s all for tonight my friends.  I thank you for coming along even when topics interest you less than other days.  Keep on.

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To Catch What People Throw At You, Give a Little or You’ll Drop It

Football: Jets-v-Eagles, Sep 2009 - 16

Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Sometimes it doesn’t serve us well to follow our instincts.

When I was little, I don’t know, maybe nine, I remember one of the many times Dad tried to teach me how to throw and catch a football on our front lawn, under the huge tree that seemed to always block me. Dad had played college-ball on scholarship at Duke University where he promptly blew out his knee; one of the many orthopedic problems he’s known. However, he still had his arm and his gentle way of making me feel like he really enjoyed lopping the ball over short distances with me and my awkward hands.

Catch the ball right here, into your arm like you’d cradle a baby.

Nobody needs to try that many times before learning that footballs are hard and pointy and hurt a lot when we catch them wrong. Purposefully putting my body in front of that spinning high-speed object didn’t feel safe.

Get in there and watch it the whole way make contact with you as you catch it.

My eyes were still shut when he said that. I was trying not to cry but I was pretty sure my fingers were going to look differently when I opened them.

Here came more less obvious instruction,

Let your arms and hands give a little, while you catch, closing down on the ball as you let it push you.

People throw all sorts of things at us in the space between “me and thee.” It can hurt to catch and even physically damaging. But counterintuitively, we need to catch like we are cradling a baby, get in there, and give way a little.

This isn’t always advisable but it refers to opportunities to practice presence. Not every interpersonal moment is such an opportunity. Nor will each true opportunity be received naturally or effectively. Those will improve with practice, or perhaps coaching or medical intervention.

The other day, Frida told me with some self-satisfaction about the long hoped for day when she stayed with her daughter during her daughter’s anger, rather than escaping. She gave space for her daughter to throw her pain around. Frida cradled her in her personal space long enough to receive and throw back. For Frida, what she threw back was the next effort of growth. That day we celebrated the presence she was able to offer her daughter and herself.

Now get in there Frida, let it come into you. Give way to some of the momentum or you’ll drop it, and cradle what you catch.

For Frida to do this, she owned her choice to find the presence and to do the work to gain the skill. As I am a medical physician of the brain, you might guess we worked on her illnesses. Frida stayed, received her presence in the company of her daughter – and we celebrated.

Self-Care Tip #284 – Give way to some of the momentum and cradle what you want to be present with.

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Self-Care As it Affects Your Professional Self

Of the patients waiting at the Out-Patient Dep...

Image via Wikipedia

Self-Care Tip #236 – Think about what self-care is doing for your professional self.

When speaking with managing editor of the Journal of Participatory Medicine (JoPM,) Kathleen O’Malley yesterday, I struggled to explain the presumed simple description of what effect self-care has had over the past many months on my professional self.  I realized that I hadn’t spoken much about that yet.  The words spilled out, messy and ungraceful.  I’d like to say it better so I’m going to try again, and then many more times.  Self-care has helped me be a better physician.

I see people differently.  I look at them from the self-care angle.  I look for those sticky bits where we can connect and collaborate.  I expect things from them.  I ally myself with their self-respect, with their intuitive desire to be a friend with themselves.  I am bored at work when I don’t do this.  I am bored at work when my patients don’t do this too.  Yes.  My quality of practice has definitely improved.

Who isn’t blessed when they see the courage to face stigma, shame and bewildering illness?  Who isn’t more informed every time someone chooses the freedom to do self-care, chooses to live when disease is damaging them, fights hard like my niece did and shows what that fight is worth?  Who doesn’t learn from that?  Who doesn’t want more?  When someone loses their identity to the defacing ravages of disease but still knows who they are, is for me, one of the best places in the world to be.

Working harder on myself personally is working harder to improve myself professionally.  One healthy is another healthy Me.  Self-care has helped me find more pleasure at work because I know I am responsible about how I feel when I’m there.  I take care of myself when I’m there and then I’m able to give more to my patients because of it, including just being present.

Being present is really a lot to get and a lot to give.  I sense this in my kids who want me to see them.  They call out for observation of activities; riding without training wheels, jumping super high, running in fast shoes, building awesomeness.  But those are code.  They want me to see them.  I just can’t do that when I’m self-neglected.  It carries over in all spheres of my life, including the office.  Who wants to consult a physician who is half asleep in the chair?  (Now if I need a nap, I just go all the way and sleep! j/k.)

I know my self-care is participating in the practice of this kind of medicine with you.  I’m hoping to get better saying it.

Questions:  What has self-care done for you in your professional world?  How has it helped you work better as a team-member?  How has it helped you receive better from others who have something to give – such as teach you or give directions?  Please tell me your story.

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