Catherine Z had an experience of hypomania in her late teens and was admitted to hospital for 2 weeks and prescribed antipsychotics. After giving birth at the age of 29 she suffered from an episode of acute manic psychosis. She explains that ECT was the only treatment that worked for her on that occassion. She views ECT as a lifesaver and describes it as pressing the reset button, allowing you to get back to who you were before.

Alka has been married to her husband for nearly 30 years. 18 Months after getting married her husband had a severe episode of depression and was later diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. He has been treated with ECT several times and they both consider it one of the only things that help during his worst episodes.

Dafydd first felt his wife was clinically ill' after she retired. After a stay in an inpatient ward, she was offered ECT. His wife didn't respond to antidepressant medication, but responded to ECT. She continues to have ECT once a month as an outpatient.

David has cared for his partner for many years. Nearly 20 years ago she was offered ECT and David decided she could have this as he was told this was a last resort treatment. David felt she didn't benefit from it at the time and years later she still suffers from memory problems.

Mandie became severely depressed and found that anti-depressant medication did not work for her. She felt unsupported by the NHS and had a long wait for talking therapy. Mandie considered having ECT when nothing was working, but she decided against it.

Tristan's wife had her first major episode of depression after the traumatic birth of their first child. She was admitted to hospital following an overdose and was soon offered ECT, age 33. Although at first she responded dramatically to ECT, she relapsed 6-10 weeks later. Tristan's wife is now recovered and they have had another child together.

Julian experienced a lot of stress when he was 40 during a marital breakdown and family illness. He felt no emotion and felt that antidepressant medication did nothing for him. Julian requested to have ECT as he felt increasingly desperate for something that might help. Initially he improved quickly, but then went downhill two weeks after his ECT had finished.

Lorraine and Annie's mother had her first major episode of depression when she was in her early 40s. Later, when she was in her 70s, she became very unwell after her husband and son died within a few months of each other. She was given anti-depressant medicines and tranquilisers but was then offered ECT. Lorraine and Annie agreed to try it. They now think that ECT led to a big improvement in her well-being.

Helen had ECT in 1970 aged 17.. She had an unwanted pregnancy and was admitted to an old Victorian hospital where she had ECT. In retrospect she realised she had had puerperal psychosis (severe mental illness after childbirth). Helen suffered for many years with the side effects of ECT, psychiatric medication and mental ill health. She has now recovered her sanity and has improved physical health.

David had always experienced depression but when he was in his early 40s his depression got much worse and he had a breakdown. He was admitted to hospital and was offered ECT, age 43. David had 20 ECT treatments which lifted the depression in a way that antidepressants never had. He is however still looking for work.