Yes, and this is particularly true when CPR is performed on a loved one — one of the most distressing experiences a person can face. You were trying to keep someone alive, possibly not knowing whether your efforts were working. That is deeply traumatic, regardless of the outcome.
People who have performed CPR commonly report intrusive thoughts and flashbacks replaying the moment of collapse or the resuscitation itself, guilt about whether they started quickly enough or did it correctly, hypervigilance about the survivor’s health, fear of being left alone with them, and difficulty sleeping.
It is important to know that guilt about CPR performance is extremely common and almost never warranted. Even trained paramedics do not perform CPR perfectly under stress. Imperfect CPR is far better than no CPR, and the fact that you acted almost certainly made a difference.
If you are struggling with distressing thoughts, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, or low mood, please talk to your GP. Effective treatments are available, including trauma-focused CBT and EMDR. You can also contact SCA UK for peer support from others who have been through similar experiences.