One of the most essential aspects of recovery is finding connection and support. Building or joining a community of ECMO survivors or caregivers can help you realize that you’re not alone in your feelings. Sharing your experiences with others who understand can offer emotional comfort and foster healing. 

"For me personally, finding people who truly understood what I had been through, the delirium, the fear, and the post recovery part of my journey made a huge impact on how I saw my life."- Kira Rhyne

After undergoing a traumatic and invasive physical process such as ECMO, there is a high risk of PTSD, or Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. There is also risk of depression, delirium, and panic disorders related to the event. Patients may experience flashbacks, medical triggers such as doctors appointments, procedures, or even random triggers that they cannot explain. Thus, the imoortance of therapy. Therapies that have been found to be successful are: EMDR, Cognitive Reprocessing therapy, and Behavioral therapy. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals process and resolve distressing memories, particularly those associated with trauma. 

CPT is a specific type of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps patients learn how to modify and challenge unhelpful beliefs related to the trauma.