Sleep/Nightmares

Sleep

You may notice your sleep pattern has changed since your admission. You may find getting to sleep or waking frequently through the night problematic. During your critical care stay, you may have received care day and night which can disturb sleep.

Trying to maintain a sleep schedule by going to bed and getting up at the same time throughout the week should help to reset your body clock routine. Getting a good amount of sleep is important to your recovery and energy levels. To help prepare yourself for sleep, it can be beneficial to do a relaxing activity before bed. Try avoiding bright lights (i.e., phone and tablets), caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Instead listen to calm sounds or music, read a book or having a bath or shower.

It is important to rest during the day and having power naps of 30 minutes in a lighter room can be beneficial. Longer sleeps in the day can disturb your overnight sleep. Finding other ways to relax throughout the day can also be beneficial, such as reading, listening to music, meditation or other relaxation techniques.

Hallucinations and nightmares

It is common for patients in critical care to experience hallucinations and vivid dreams, and this sometime continues when patients return home.

Hallucinations and dreams are often caused by medications, being critically unwell and the unusual environment of critical care. These experiences can feel very real and be frightening, making it difficult to separate them from reality.

Speaking with family, friends and medical staff is important. They usually resolve over a few days/weeks. By talking, you will be able to make sense of them and separate what is real and not.