Post ICU Mental Health Recovery Help Guide
To help you think about your recovery in this area we have organised a series of films from our specialist clinicians that aim to answer some of the most common questions we have heard our patients ask.
To support the information contained in the films, we have also organised as series of ‘information cards’. These cards give you a brief overview of the topic, the logo or name of the organisation you can access the information from and the trusted web link to the information we recommend.
These are the rehabilitation support question topics that we have created the resources for:
Local Mental Health support services in the Bradford District
MyWellbeing IAPT Service
This is a free NHS service to help people manage everyday problems such as feeling low, having problems sleeping, feeling anxious and experiencing stress.
Mind in Bradford
They provide support and advice for mental health problems 365 days/year, including a range of Wellbeing and Recovery groups, a befriending service, as well as more urgent mental health help and support.
What do I do if I feel really stressed and anxious?
Top tips to manage stress and anxiety
- Try mindfulness or meditation techniques to shift your focus away from the anxiety (see the Better Health card below)
- Set aside a daily “worry time” – 15 minutes when you can think through your concerns. This will help you focus on other things for the rest of the time
- Don’t try to do too much – tasks will seem more manageable if you break them down into small sections, and plan ahead to give yourself more time to do things
A good starting point to help your recovery in this area
ICU Steps
ICU Steps are the intensive care patient support charity. This link is to their “Worry after Critical Illness” information booklet, with advice on how you might feel, and how to manage your worries.
Critical Care Support Network
CC-SN aims to support all Critical Care patients and their families deal with stress with online group meetings, and yoga or relaxation sessions like the ones in the link below
Better Health
This link provides information on the benefits of meditation and how it can release tension and anxieties. It also provides a beginners guide to learn how to meditate.
NHS Inform
Follow this link for a self-help guide to work through to help you understand and manage your stress and anxiety.
I’m feeling sad and emotional – what can I do?
Top tips to improve your mood
- Talk to others about how you feel
- Do some physical activity – listening to music while you’re moving can boost your mood
- Eat healthily and aim to get a good night’s sleep
A good starting point to help your recovery in this area
NHS How to be happier
This is a free NHS service to help people manage everyday depression and how to be happier by managing your stress levels.
NHS Every Mind Matters
This NHS Every Mind Matters site gives you some useful ideas about how you can improve your mood.
How can I get a better night’s sleep?
Top tips to help you sleep
- Keep regular sleep hours
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
- Don’t look at your phone an hour before going to bed
A good starting point to help your recovery in this area
Better Health
They provide more tips of trying to get good quality sleep to improve how you feel mentally and physically
NHS Insomnia
This NHS site helps you to understand more about insomnia and it’s effects, as well as how you can change your sleeping habits.
The Sleep Charity
They are one of the leading, independent expert voices on sleep issues in the UK and we are here to help everyone get a better night’s sleep.
I’m getting flashbacks from ICU – is this normal?
Top tips to help with flashbacks
- Talk through any flashbacks you get with family/healthcare professionals
- Use the “safe place” method
- Try to improve your sleep quality
A good starting point to help your recovery in this area
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
Unfortunately many patients experience hallucinations, such as seeing things that aren’t there, whilst on critical care. Intensive care helps you understand this and how to cope with it.
Youtube Video
This short YouTube video explains the “Safe Place” technique which will help you learn how to cope with any disturbing flashbacks you are having.
I can’t remember things as well as I used to – is there anything that will help?
Top tips to help with your memory
- Try to reduce your stress
- Practice “brain training puzzles”
- Avoid trying to do too many things at once
A good starting point to help your recovery in this area
The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
It is very common for patients who have been seriously ill to report that their memory is not as good as it was. Intensive Care Medicine help you tackle this and how to move on.
Lumosity Brain Training
They provide support to help you train your brain memory and flexibility exercises. This is helps patients who are dealing with memory loss.
