FAQ

Yes, very much so. Anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress are all recognised clinical responses to life-threatening events, and cardiac arrest is about as life-threatening as it gets. These are not weaknesses or character flaws. They are your nervous system responding to something genuinely terrifying.

Anxiety is particularly common after cardiac arrest, often centring on fear of another arrest, heightened awareness of the heartbeat (sometimes called cardiac hypervigilance), or avoidance of activities that feel risky. Depression affects many survivors too, often arriving some weeks after the event, once the initial adrenaline of survival has worn off.

If feelings like these are persisting beyond a few weeks, are severe, or are affecting your daily life, speak to your GP. There are effective treatments, including CBT, EMDR, and medication. Peer support also helps many people enormously. Members of our community may also be eligible for free private counselling sessions through our partnership with SADS UK.

Category: Fear and Anxiety

Good follow-up care after cardiac arrest should be tailored to the individual, rather than relying on a standard set of tests that produce a single summary score.

For older survivors, good follow-up would include a careful assessment of physical functioning — the ability to move around, carry out self-care, manage daily activities and live independently. Identifying these difficulties early means support and adaptations can be put in place before problems become entrenched.

For younger survivors, good follow-up would include deliberate, compassionate attention to psychological wellbeing — anxiety screening, assessment for PTSD and depression, and support for returning to work and social life. These are not optional extras; they are core outcomes that matter as much as cardiac function.

For all survivors, good follow-up should treat quality of life as having several distinct dimensions — physical, psychological, cognitive and social — not as a single measure. It should continue beyond the first few months, since some effects of cardiac arrest emerge or persist over a longer period.

The RCUK Survivor Quality Standard, published in 2024, sets out a framework for exactly this kind of follow-up. If you are not receiving structured review that addresses your whole experience, it is worth asking your GP or cardiac team what is available to you.

Category: Life After Cardiac Arrest

Yes, based on current research and international guidelines, they should.

Mental health screening — including assessment for anxiety and depression — is recommended as part of post-cardiac arrest follow-up care by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the European Resuscitation Council. Psychological distress is common after cardiac arrest, affecting an estimated 15 to 30% of survivors, and can be just as disabling as physical limitations.

In practice, many follow-up appointments focus primarily or exclusively on cardiac function — the echocardiogram, the device check, the heart rhythm. While these are important, they tell your clinical team very little about how you are managing your anxiety, your sleep, your ability to return to work, or your fear of a recurrence.

If your appointments have not included a conversation about your mental health or psychological wellbeing, it is worth raising this yourself. You might say: “I’ve been struggling with anxiety since the arrest” or “I don’t feel like myself — is there support available?” Your GP, cardiologist or cardiac rehabilitation team can make referrals to psychological support services.

You do not have to wait until things reach crisis point. Raising concerns early leads to better outcomes.

Category: Psychological Support

Several routes to psychological support are available after cardiac arrest, and you do not have to wait until things feel unmanageable before seeking help.

Your GP is usually the first port of call. They can assess your mental health, prescribe medication if appropriate, and refer you to talking therapy. In England, NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) provides free CBT, counselling, and other therapies, and you can self-refer online without going through your GP first. Waiting times vary by area. Routes in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland differ slightly.

Cardiac rehabilitation often includes a psychological component alongside exercise and education, and is recommended for cardiac arrest survivors. Ask your cardiology team for a referral if you have not been offered one.

Specialist support (for example, if you have complex PTSD, severe depression, or significant cognitive difficulties) can be accessed through your GP, who can refer you to community mental health services or a neuropsychologist.

Peer support, connecting with other survivors and co-survivors who understand the experience from the inside, is highly valued by many people after cardiac arrest. Our community includes thousands of people who have been through similar experiences. Our counselling information page also covers accessing free private sessions available to eligible members.

Co-survivors, including partners, family members, and rescuers, are equally entitled to support. The same NHS and private routes are open to them.

Category: Cardiac Arrest