Paris Jackson details ‘painful’ electroconvulsive therapy after suicide attempts

Paris Jackson revealed that she had undergone extensive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to help combat her depression, with the 28-year-old using the experience as inspiration for her newest album cover.

Paris, who is Michael Jackson’s only daughter, opened up about her history of mental health and substance abuse issues, and shared insight into the album cover, which depicts her with a bite guard in her mouth as a hand holds her chin firmly and a mechanism to deliver the electric shocks sits on her head.

Paris’ ECT journey revealed

The musician explained on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast that she underwent several sessions of “painful” ECT amid her battle with depression, and added that the practice was no longer “barbaric” as doctors now used general anesthesia.

“I did nine sessions in three weeks,” she said of the treatment, which she sought out after trying everything from a “conveyor belt of medication” to stints in “institutions” and coming “centimeters away” from attempting suicide.

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“I had talked to the empty chair, held the pillow, beat the things with bats while screaming,” she explained. Paris went on to detail her experience with ECT, sharing: “You go in, you get your hospital gown, they knock you out, strap you down, put a bite guard on your mouth [and] electrocute you.”

“It helps with the neuroplasticity in your brain. If I’m not mistaken, it’s still the leading most effective form of depression treatment.”

“The first time I woke up, and it was the most sharp pain I have ever experienced inside of my head. It’s soreness from getting electrocuted,” she said of the side effects. “I definitely had days completely not in my head at all.”

“I’d have friends visit me, and I don’t remember even seeing them. I don’t remember them coming by. I have evidence that a friend came by because she brought me a bag of vapes,” the actress recalled. “But I don’t remember her being here at all. I don’t remember the conversations we had. You know, amnesia is one of the primary side effects of that.”

A holistic approach 

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Paris chose to stop the treatment after realizing that it was a lifelong commitment. “There was definitely a point where I had to, I just had to stop because, you know, I was responding to the treatments and it was working,” she said on the podcast.

“But then there was a discussion of like, well you’re either going to be on these two medications for the rest of your life, or you’re going to have to come back once a month and continue getting shocked for the rest of your life. And I’m like, that’s not going to [expletive] work for me.”

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The star began to “integrate” the different treatments she had received over the years to create a more “holistic” health routine. “[I asked:] ‘How do I do this in a way that is sustainable?'”

“If I’m not integrating the things I learn from these places and these experiences, I’m gonna resort back to how I was feeling before. Without integration, I just kept getting worse and worse,” she detailed.

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Paris celebrated six years of sobriety in January, and shared that music had been her lifeline through the hard times. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress or just needs someone to talk to, support is available. In the US, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential help 24/7.