She thought it was anxiety. She thought it might be menopause. Her tests were normal. But her heart was telling a very different story.

In this powerful episode of the All Hands On Podcast, we hear from a woman who spent months experiencing unexplained episodes that were repeatedly thought to be anxiety or panic attacks. At 47, during a time of significant hormonal changes, she even wondered if menopause was responsible.

Despite having normal testing, the episodes continued.

Eventually, a loop recorder was implanted—and everything changed when it captured a terrifying cardiac event that appeared to be ventricular fibrillation, a potentially life-threatening rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the hospital and received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

But surviving the medical crisis was only the beginning.

For at least six months afterward, she struggled within tense anxiety and fear. She was afraid to do things she once took for granted and found herself constantly wondering if another dangerous episode could happen.

In this deeply personal conversation, we explore women's heart health, unexplained cardiac symptoms, anxiety versus cardiac symptoms, menopause and hormonal changes, diagnostic uncertainty, ventricul ararrhythmias, ICDs, and the psychological impact of living with the knowledge that your heart could suddenly become dangerous.

Most importantly, we talk about what it takes to move from fear back to living.

Because sometimes the symptoms aren't “just anxiety”—and sometimes listening to your own body can be the first step toward finding the answer.

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Surviving sudden cardiac arrest doesn't happen to just one person. It happens to an entire family.In this episode of the All Hands On Podcast, Fran Lesicko takes us beyond the cardiac arrest itself and into the often-overlooked world of co-survivors—the spouses, children, parents, friends, and loved ones who witness a cardiac arrest and carry their own emotional journey long after the emergency is over.Fran explains what it means to be a co-survivor, how family members can experience trauma even when they weren't physically injured, and how loved ones can support an SCA survivor without allowing fear to take over their lives.We also explore the powerful role of peer support. Fran shares why connecting with another survivor who can simply say, “I understand because I've been there,” can provide something that even medical professionals may not be able to offer.After more than three decades as an SCA survivor, Fran reflects on the passage of time, the memories that remain, and whether the emotional impact of cardiac arrest ever truly disappears. She shares what she has learned about resilience, family, survival, and finding a way to move forward.The conversation then turns toward prevention and postvention—what should happen emotionally and psychologically after someone survives cardiac arrest, whether hospitals are doing enough to support survivors and families, and what an ideal SCA follow-up program should look like.Most importantly, Fran offers a message of hope to survivors and families who may still feel broken, frightened, or alone.Because surviving cardiac arrest is only the beginning. Healing happens together—and no survivor or co-survivor should have to face that journey alone.Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple.You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.Follow us on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness .

Thirty-four years ago, Fran Lesicko experienced sudden cardiac arrest in a clinic stairwell while her three-month-old son was nearby. In an extraordinary turn of events, her son's crying helped bring attention to what was happening—and ultimately helped save her life.But surviving sudden cardiac arrest was only the beginning.In this deeply personal episode of the All Hands On Podcast, Fran shares what it was like to wake up and learn that she had nearly died, how SCA changed her perspective on life, and what people often fail to understand about the long-term survivor experience.As a licensed psychologist and longtime SCA survivor, Fran brings both professional knowledge and personal experience to the conversation. She discusses the hidden psychological effects of cardiac arrest—including anxiety, depression, PTSD, fear of dying, and the fear that another cardiac arrest could happen at any moment.Fran also opens up about living with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), having undergone five ICDs and experiencing both appropriate and inappropriate shocks. She explains the emotional impact of an ICD shock, the trauma and fear that can follow, and what she wants newly shocked survivors to know.Most importantly, Fran reminds us that survival doesn't end when you leave the hospital. The emotional healing, adjustment, and rebuilding of confidence can continue for years—even decades.This is a conversation about survival, fear, family, mental health, resilience, and learning how to live fully after sudden cardiac arrest.Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple.You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.Follow us on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness .

What happens when the person you love suddenly collapses—and you are the one who has to perform CPR to save their life?

 In this powerful episode of the All Hands On Podcast, we hear from Tyler, a son who found himself in an unimaginable situation when his father suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at home. Tyler stepped in and performed CPR on his dad, becoming not only a lifesaving responder but also a co-survivor of the experience.

 Tyler opens up about what went through his mind during those critical moments, the memories that have stayed with him, and the emotional impact that followed. He shares how the experience affected his mental health, the pressure he felt to remain strong for his family, and how it ultimately influenced his decision to pursue a career in nursing.

Now working in a pediatric emergency department, Tyler reflects on how his personal experience has shaped the healthcare professional—and son—he has become.

This conversation reminds us that sudden cardiac arrest doesn't affect just the person whose heart stops. The family members who witness it, perform CPR, make critical decisions, and wait for answers can carry their own emotional and mental-health journey long after the emergency is over.

Because sometimes, the person who helps save a life needs healing too.

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Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest or critical illness is alife-changing experience—but for many survivors, the journey doesn't end whenthey leave the hospital.

In this episode of All Hands On, I speak with Dr. Brian C.Peach, PhD, RN, FCCM, CCRN-K, Associate Professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, about what happens after the ICU and why recovery can continue long after a patient returns home.

Dr. Peach draws on 20 years of nursing experience—including17 years working in ICUs—and his current work as a researcher focused onPost-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) and the mental health of critical illness survivors.

We discuss what PICS is, how anxiety, depression, PTSD,sleep problems, and other challenges can affect survivors, and why these issues can go unrecognized. Dr. Peach also explains why it's possible to feel incredibly grateful to be alive while simultaneously struggling emotionally—and why families and caregivers can experience trauma of their own.

The conversation explores his research into virtual realityexposure therapy for PTSD, his efforts to increase recognition of PICS, and what healthcare providers and hospitals can do differently to better prepare survivors for the emotional side of recovery.

Most importantly, Dr. Peach shares his perspective onresilience, meaningful recovery, and hope, along with practical advice for survivors and families navigating life after a sudden cardiac arrest or prolonged ICU stay.

For anyone who has survived a critical illness, experienceda sudden cardiac arrest, supported a loved one through one, or simply wants to better understand what happens after survival, this is an important conversation.

Because surviving is only the beginning.

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We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac ArrestSurvivor Mental Health Awareness .

Facebook pages referenced:

PICS Advocacy Network | Facebook

WALK4PICS | Facebook

Facebook (work account)

Websites:

Home (Walk-4-PICS)

Providers (PICS-friendly providers on theWalk-4-PICS page)

Jules is a 24-year-old social work professional with a Master’s in Social Work and a deep passion for mental health and the connection between the mind, body, and soul. She is currently awaiting her Licensed Social Worker (LSW) credential from the State of New Jersey and is excited to begin her career supporting others through their own journeys of healing, growth, and self-discovery.

Beyond her professional path, Jules’ passion for mental health is deeply personal. As the daughter of a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivor, she has experienced firsthand how a life-changing event can affect not only the person who survives, but an entire family.

Her experiences have shaped the way she views resilience, gratitude, connection, and the importance of caring for ourselves holistically. She understands that surviving SCA is about more than the physical recovery—it can also involve emotional and mental challenges for both the survivor and the people who love them.

Jules believes mental health is more than what happens in our minds. It is connected to our bodies, our relationships, our experiences, and our overall sense of purpose and well-being.

Through both her professional knowledge and personal experiences, Jules hopes to create meaningful conversations about mental health, life’s challenges, resilience, family, and what it truly means to grow through what we go through.

As she continues building her career in social work, Jules is passionate about reminding others that there is strength in vulnerability, power in asking for help, and beauty in the process of becoming who we are meant to be.

Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple.

You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.

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Since his miraculous recovery from sudden cardiac arrest, Mike Papale has never stopped moving. The Founder and CEO of nonprofit organization In A Heartbeat—dedicated to preventing death from sudden cardiac arrest and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

www.inaheartbeat.org

He is also the author of a book “A Big Heart”.

https://us.amazon.com/Big-Heart-Mike-Papale-ebook/dp/B09BXVC48K?ref_=ast_author_mpb

https://www.abigheartbook.com

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You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.

We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness Group where we always continue the conversations.

Laura Block was a hospital pharmacist, but she had a cardiac arrest in a hospital during a surgery. After trying to keep on working for a few years, she left because she was being triggered by the cardiac arrests that she attended to as a hospital pharmacist. Now she teaches CPR as therapy and as an advocate, and she works in a disaster response as a volunteer full-time.

Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available onSpotify and Apple.

You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube underAll Hands On Podcast.

We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest SurvivorMental Health Awareness Group where we always continue the conversations.

His journey started on 13th of August 2025. His wife found him on the bed unresponsive at 6am. She called 000 (911) and was told to start CPR. She did that for 6.5 minutes, which is a feat on its own. When the ambulance arrived, they took over and shocked him 6 times and gave him 3 shots of adrenaline. They put the Lucas machine on him and worked on him for a hour before putting him in an induced coma. They told his wife that he was most likely not going to make it. In hospital they stabilized him and told his wife it was a good sign but to prepare for major brain damage. He doesn’t remember any of this but after 10 days, a new ICD, and lots of medications, he went home. He was feeling fine and he went back to work. Then two weeks after only to suffer a double stroke that left him blind in my peripheral vision in my right eye and loss of 80% of my mobility in my left side. He was back in hospital for a week and got additional medication and sent home. Two weeks of rehab and he recovered almost fully, with some speech problems and his vision still gone. Two weeks after that he was back to normal and went back to work. He is grateful to be alive and he really looks at life differently. Not so much in a major way but just enjoyed so much more of the little things. Time with his grandkids, time with his wife on little getaways like going for walks near the beach and have lunch or breakfast out. He have read many stories of people who struggle with life afterwards. He don’t have that. He wants to tell his story and he wants people to know how amazing life can be. Not to take it for granted. Things like work are just a means to an end. Savor the time you have and enjoy it as best you can. The main reason that he built the app was because when he came home after my cardiac arrest and double stroke, he had so many medications that he was told what there were for, but he didn’t remember amongst every other bit of information he was given. He didn’t realize that simple things like Ibuprofen shouldn’t be taken while I’m on Riveroxaban. He needed something that could give me this information without the need to call a hospital, chemist, or doctor each time. As He started building this, more and more useful features kept coming to mind and it has been expanding ever since. But its main purpose has always been to provide a safe and controlled way to get information about food and drug interactions with the medications a user is on. Every other feature is a bonus added benefit. The next version is going to support my wife’s journey of weight loss surgery and all the joys that come with that journey. 

Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple.

You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.

We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness Group where we always continue the conversations.

Tana Billingsley is a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. She survived a SCA while on vacation in Mexico on New Years Day.

Please subscribe to the All Hands On Podcast available on Spotify and Apple.

You can follow our video podcast version on YouTube under All Hands On Podcast.

We are on Facebook under Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor Mental Health Awareness Group where we always continue the conversations.