We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy Policy

OK


Common psychological issues

In this section, we've provided some basic information and advice on the common psychological and emotional issues that many patients face after getting home. These include feeling anxious, low or irritable, having flashbacks, mood swings, poor concentration and problems sleeping. Worrying about money can also be a real concern. Not everyone will face these issues, and some may find them more troublesome than others.We've provided some general advice which we hope you find useful.

It's important to remember that, for some people, psychological or emotional problems arise late in the recovery process, often once they returned to normal. This can be quite difficult for a number of reasons. Some people hide or feel guilty about these issues when they feel that their family has already been through enough and they want to appear strong for everyone else. It's never too late or too difficult to get the help you need.

 

 

 

You have 26 results.

Apply a filter below to refine your search results.

Document: Post-traumatic stress-a patient's story

This is a short article in the British Medical Journal.It was written by a former patient who was training to be a Doctor at the time when she became ill.

Web Link: Psychological support for older people & families

This link will take you to the MindEd website, and their mental health resources to help support older people, and those who care for them. There are some easily understandable advice and self-help resources on dealing with issues like anxiety and depression (including information on medication), poor sleep, loneliness, stress, physical activity, etc.

Article: Short term memory loss

Some patients experience a range of short-term memory problems after Intensive Care. This is sometimes called "cognitive impairment" or "cognitive dysfunction". This may mean that you have problems remembering things, you may find that you can't concentrate for long periods, or you may find that your attention span is shorter than it was before.Some people also have difficulty working out problems or organising complex tasks. This may mean, for example, that you...

Article: Sleep disturbances

Feeling tired is very common It’s very common to have problems sleeping in the first few weeks after you get home, even though you may feel very tired. You might struggle to get to sleep, have broken sleep, sleep for much longer than usual or sleep at different times to which you normally would (including napping during the day). Why can't I sleep? It's likely that many people suffer from sleep deprivation during their time in hospital. Some people wake several...

Web Link: Sleeping better

This link will take you to the Patient website and their page on insomnia (poor sleep). They offer common sense information and advice on sleeping better, which you can download or print off, if you like.

Web Link: Top tips on recovery after ICU: a video

This link will take you to a video from ICUsteps, the UK's ICU patient charity. Their website can be found by clicking here: ICUsteps. In it, the group host a Question and Answer session, and discuss a range of top tips on recovering after ICU, including managing fatigue (tiredness) and improving sleep. THe video is just over an hour long, and we hope you find it useful.