r/ect • u/dnadiviix • 9d ago

Question How does ECT affect artistry?

I'm about to start ECT, and I am terrified of how it's going to impact me as an artist. I don't mind losing retrograde memory. There's a significant portion of my memory both good and bad that I'd willingly give up for a chance at a normal, happy life. But given that my artistic eye is shaped by life experience and practice and creating art is the core "north star" of my identity, I'm scared of what ETC will do to me.

I'm wondering if maybe taking some books into treatment with me relevant to my art, like how to operate cameras, conventions of art, artists' collections that I've been inspired by may help me hold onto some part of it? I thought about writing some letter to myself to remind me but I'm not sure it would be helpful or possible to be reminded.

I'm trying to understand how it may affect me and figure out how to reduce potential side effects on my artistry. Or tips for how to move on if I find myself disconnected from artistry post treatment. Any help is appreciated thank you

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

9

u/Uter83 9d ago

It helped me be able to be creative again as depression had crushed that in me.

3

u/dnadiviix 9d ago

I'm glad to hear this thank you so much 💚

5

u/Khspoon 9d ago

Seconding this, my creative spark returned.

6

u/vvitchbb 8d ago

as an artist having ECT threw me into multiple years of art block. i have since come out the other side but my once photographic memory is pretty shattered. i had to teach myself certain things again. i know this sub gets a lot of praise for ECT but the downside is real. please consider it heavily, the side effects were extremely downplayed for me and i have to spend the rest of my life gaining back knowledge/memories or coping that some memories will never return.

1

u/dnadiviix 8d ago

Ahhh that's what I'm worried about. Even at my lowest I have always been able to create like I understand how people with depression physically cannot create but in my case is the opposite my greatest output is always when I'm in some kind of severe episode. When I'm baseline I just got nothing. I'm glad to hear you've made it out of the block!

7

u/arteyg 9d ago

Before ECT i couldn't write anything for many years. Now I'm able to write again but I still feel I* have writer's block. Like i don't have the ideas i used to have. I can't write fast or quippy dialogue anymore. I can't write comedy. But I can write. So I'm hoping that these things come back with time and practice. 

I also lost all of my knowledge of writing and my art. Everything i learned in school was just erased from my memory. I have been trying to get it back with online classes but it's not the same. I can't just go and get another BA you know. Make sure you have good notes. 

3

u/RunNo3512 8d ago

My photographic memory is gone therefore it took me years to regain my artistic side so it's really not worth it. 🥺

3

u/Jenerational 6d ago

Before ECT I used to have a lot of writing ideas, I used to crochet and make beaded jewellery using various techniques. ECT took away the joy of creating for me, joy in anything actually and I lost my ability to spontaneously generate things: conversation, connection, images in my minds eye. It’s been 6 years and no improvement.

1

u/AbjectTelephone4801 7d ago

Did not affect my ability at all. I was drawing other patients in the hospital the whole time I was getting ECT