Most people find that it takes time to recover physically and mentally from a critical illness. Physically you may notice differences such as muscle weakness, breathlessness or difficulty swallowing. Mentally you may feel sad, worried, have memory problems or frightening nightmares.

You might be told that you are experiencing Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). PICS is a term given to a group of symptoms that people may experience after a stay in intensive care. These symptoms may affect your body, your mind, or your emotions, and may also be experienced by members of your family. If this label has been used by a health professional to describe your symptoms, don’t worry they will improve, but it may take some time.

It is important to be patient with yourself and not expect to get completely back to normal straight away. Most people’s recovery from critical illness takes several weeks or months. It is normal for recovery to be gradual, so you may need to pace yourself as you try to return to your daily activities. Your family may also be affected by your time in intensive care, and you may find that relationships have changed, they can access advice and support here.