Yes — even if you were not the one who performed CPR, witnessing a cardiac arrest is a profoundly shocking experience. Seeing someone you love collapse, not knowing whether they would survive, spending days or weeks at a hospital bedside, and then navigating their recovery at home can all leave lasting psychological effects.
What you experienced meets the criteria for a potentially traumatic event. It is entirely normal to have intrusive thoughts, disturbing dreams, difficulty concentrating, heightened anxiety, fear of it happening again, or periods of low mood — even weeks or months after the event. You may also find yourself feeling emotionally numb or detached, or swinging between feeling fine and feeling overwhelmed.
These are not signs of weakness. They are signs that something very frightening happened to you, and your mind and body are still processing it. Many co-survivors find that symptoms reduce naturally over time with the support of people around them. Others find that symptoms persist or worsen, in which case professional support is recommended.
Talk to your GP about what you are experiencing. You can also contact Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK to connect with others who understand what you have been through.