EXCLUSIVE: Paris Jackson Sparks Fresh Health Fears With Therapy Horror Story
Paris Jackson has been open about her therapy experience.
Aug. 23 2026, Published 12:00 p.m. ET
Paris Jackson has sparked fresh concern after revealing the harrowing extent of her past mental health struggles – including undergoing nine sessions of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in just three weeks after coming "very, very close" to an attempt on her own life, Radaronline.com can reveal.
Paris, 28, who has been sober for six years, described being placed under general anesthesia, strapped down, and given ECT while discussing her past treatment on Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast.
Paris Jackson Recalls Severe Pain and Memory Loss From ECT
Paris Jackson revealed undergoing nine electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sessions over three weeks following severe suicidal ideation.
The star, daughter of Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, detailed severe pain, memory loss, and periods when she felt completely disconnected afterward.
Speaking about how close she had come to taking her own life before undergoing ECT, Paris said: "I did nine sessions in three weeks.
"(I was), like, centimetres away."
The stark disclosures have renewed attention on the battles Paris has endured; however, her comments concern previous treatment, and she said she has since adopted a different approach to maintaining her well-being.
Describing ECT, Paris said: "It's not as barbaric as it used to be. They use general anesthetic. You're knocked out when they shock you.
"I have a lot of metal (piercings), so I had to replace all the metal in my face with plastic earrings. 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 most effective form of depression treatment."
'Gnarly Side Effects' Revealed by Paris Jackson
Paris Jackson described side effects including severe physical pain and significant memory loss.
Paris added the treatment was effective but came with what she described as "gnarly side effects," including severe pain and significant gaps in her memory.
She said: "The first time I woke up, it was the most sharp pain I have ever experienced inside of my head. It's soreness from getting electrocuted. I definitely had days completely not in my head at all. Friends visited me, and I don't remember even seeing them (even though) I have evidence. I don't remember the conversations."
Before undergoing ECT, Paris said she had already tried numerous approaches while seeking help, describing a "conveyor belt of medication" and spending time in "five different institutions."
Her treatments included dialectical behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
"I had talked to the empty chair, held the pillow, beat the things with bats while screaming," she admitted.
Paris Jackson's Shift Toward Holistic Health and Daily Integration
She currently practices holistic health, daily integration, prayer, and meditation.
Although Paris said ECT "was working," she ultimately concluded continuing with maintenance sessions was not sustainable for her.
She said undergoing the procedure once a month was "not gonna f------ work" for her.
Paris instead said she now embraces "holistic health" and believes integrating lessons learned through treatment into everyday life is crucial.
"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," she noted.
"Without integration, I just kept getting worse and worse."
'She Wanted Something She Felt She Could Actually Sustain'
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The artist continues using her platform to candidly address mental health, addiction, and recovery.
A well-placed source who knows the Jackson family claimed about Paris' grueling therapy revelations: "Paris has been remarkably candid about what she went through, but hearing the details in such graphic terms has inevitably worried people who care about her. Nine ECT sessions in three weeks, the pain she describes, and the memory loss paint a frightening picture of just how desperate things became for her.
"There will naturally be fresh concern about her memory and state of her mental health after hearing Paris describe how close she came to taking her own life. She is talking about a period in her past rather than saying she is in that place today, and that distinction is incredibly important, but the severity of what she endured is still shocking."
They continued, "What makes these revelations particularly difficult to hear is the sheer number of treatments Paris says she went through trying to get better. She wasn't dealing with a fleeting problem – by her own account, she had reached a point where conventional approaches weren't giving her what she needed.
"The memory loss sounds particularly terrifying. Paris is describing friends visiting her and having no recollection of seeing them. For anyone close to her, hearing her explain the physical and mental toll of those treatments in such stark detail would be upsetting."
"The positive side is that Paris is speaking about this from a very different place today," the insider noted. "She has years of sobriety behind her and has clearly spent an enormous amount of time trying to understand what works for her. The concern comes from realizing just how dark things once became, rather than evidence that she is currently back there.
"Paris ultimately recognized that treatment alone wasn't enough unless she could take what she learned and incorporate it into everyday life. That's why she now puts so much emphasis on integration and a more holistic approach – she wanted something she felt she could actually sustain."
