Most people notice a marked increase in their overall levels of stress when a family member is admitted to ICU.
The combination of the challenges around the admission, visiting ICU, a lack of sleep, worry, and making arrangements in relation to all other aspects of life can impact on mood, sleep, and energy levels in the short and long term.
If you are a relative or friend of a patient on ICU, it is important to pace yourself whilst your loved one is on ICU. Make sure you take regular breaks and step away from the bedside to eat, hydrate, walk, and also to rest and sleep. Should it become apparent that your loved one will have a longer stay on ICU, it is important to carefully plan your visits and resume some of your usual everyday activities. The recovery process from an ICU admission can be long, and in order to support your loved one, you also need to look after you own physical and emotional health and wellbeing.
If you are a patient who has had an ICU admission, you may feel overwhelmed, worried, scared, and distressed about the admission and the often long and slow pace of recovery. It is normal to feel more vulnerable, uncertain, and upset than usual, given that most admission to ICU are unplanned.
For most people, the level of initial heightened stress will decrease over time. However, it is important to carefully plan the recovery process, set small, achievable goals, and seek support from professionals as well as friends and family.
For some people, the initial heightened stress levels will change to feelings of increased anxiety, changes in mood, and sometimes, post-traumatic stress symptoms. If this is the case and you notice no improvements in how you feel, it is important to seek professional support. Speak to a member of the Recovery after Critical Illness Service for advice and signposting.