It took three months for Alyssa Phillips to receive a diagnosis of Catatonia after the sudden onset of strange behaviors. She only received this diagnosis after her mother, Belinda, an attorney and seasoned medical advocate, kept calling Alyssa’s psychiatrist explaining that there was something wrong with Alyssa's brain. It was as if she was having mini strokes, she had lost her cognitive abilities and she responded to questions by repeating them (echolalia).  Once the psychiatrist understood that Alyssa was exhibiting echolalia, she suspected Catatonia and provided directions for a Lorazepam (Ativan) Challenge (giving Alyssa the benzodiazepine Lorazepam in increasing doses until either her symptoms reduced or she fell asleep).  Lorazepam temporarily relieved her symptoms and confirmed the diagnosis of Catatonia.

Even after receiving a diagnosis of Catatonia, Belinda searched high and low for something that would help Alyssa because curative treatment options weren’t presented at the time. She sought out the help of 15 different healthcare specialists in an attempt to discover what caused Alyssa to have Catatonia. No one had any answers and all tests came back normal. She sought out treatment options (ketamine infusions, neurofeedback, chiropractic kinesiology, supplements, therapy and trauma-informed coaching), none of which were covered by insurance or helpful. Alyssa’s symptoms continued to worsen. Belinda’s research led her to Dr. Max Fink, an expert in Catatonia, who had retired many years ago. She sent him an email and was surprised when he called her directly. Dr. Fink explained Alyssa had a severe form of Catatonia, the dose of Lorazepam Alyssa was taking could be significantly increased and there was an 80 to 100% chance she could be cured with ECT.

The dose of Lorazepam Alyssa was taking was increased to 24 mg a day. It helped temporarily but as soon as the medication started to wear off, the symptoms came back in full force. The thought of inducing seizures with ECT as a curative treatment terrified Belinda. Her other daughter has a seizure disorder and she had spent years trying to stop the seizures. After speaking with Dr. Fink, Belinda thoroughly researched ECT and realized it was Alyssa’s best option. Family members were not supportive at all and encouraged Belinda to find a therapist for Alyssa. It wasn’t easy to get a consult for ECT but Belinda was the squeaky wheel. The day after the ninth treatment Alyssa’s symptoms disappeared. The treatments continued for a few more months and Alyssa graduated from her ECT treatments. She was completely cured.