Anja Peters began acting strangely when she was in her first year of college studying to be a nurse. She dropped out of college as her symptoms escalated. Her family did not know what to do. She was sent out of state to a program for troubled teenagers yet the symptoms continued. She felt hopeless and believed she had ruined her life and that nothing could fix it. She attempted suicide on several occasions and was almost successful. Physicians who treated her said it was a miracle she survived without any brain or other organ damage.

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The main focus of Anja’s father, Michael, was to keep Anja alive and find something that would help her. It was challenging because Anja’s symptoms were puzzling. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder yet the prescribed medications were not helpful. Her suicidal ideation was ever-present and she would take action toward her goal whenever possible. Michael described it as suicidal determination. She was on 24-hour suicide watch both in and out of the hospital. Michael tried everything he could think of to help Anja—diet, exercise, therapy, residential psychiatric facilities, ketamine infusions. Nothing helped other than Lorazepam (Ativan). More than a year and a half after Anja’s symptoms began, Michael spoke to a mother whose daughter had previously been diagnosed with Catatonia and was cured with ECT. After speaking with her, he suspected a diagnosis of Catatonia since the only medication that helped Anja was Lorazepam. Michael wasn’t sure about this diagnosis as his daughter did not seem to fit the descriptions of Catatonia in the literature.

When Michael had run out of options, he decided to explore ECT. Anja was referred to the ECT Clinic at the University of Michigan.  She and her father met with the psychiatrist in charge of the clinic. In order for Anja to receive ECT, she would have to be admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit. It took Michael some time to make this decision. Family and friends were not supportive. Michael did his own due diligence and decided it was Anja’s best option. After the fourth treatment, Anja’s suicidal ideation and other symptoms (fear, hopelessness, lack of ability to connect or feel) all went away. Her treatment continued for several months.  She has been thriving ever since and is eager to tell her story to help others.