Mindfulness

A practice of intentionally directing attention to the present moment — thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations — with curiosity and without judgement. Mindfulness-based approaches, including Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), have a growing evidence base for reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. For cardiac arrest survivors and ICD patients, mindfulness can be a useful tool for managing health anxiety, fear of recurrence, and the psychological impact of living with uncertainty. It does not require any particular belief system and can be practised in many ways — guided meditation, body scan exercises, mindful movement, or simply paying attention to everyday activities. NHS-based mindfulness courses are available in some areas; apps and online programmes are widely accessible.