The Intensive Care Unit Journal

The ICU journal is a powerful, evidence-based tool designed to support critically ill patients and their families during and after an intensive care stay. Studies show that journaling can reduce post-ICU trauma, anxiety, and depression by helping patients make sense of their experience. Loved ones use this journal to record daily updates, progress, emotions, and milestones-creating a compassionate narrative of hope and healing. For patients, reading the journal later can bridge memory gaps and aid emotional and psychological recovery. This journal honors their journey, offering comfort in crisis and promoting long-term healing through the simple, powerful act of storytelling. Carly and Michael created this journal as a practical and compassionate tool to help patients and families navigate the complex ICU environment. Drawing on their combined medical and nursing expertise in critical care, they designed it to foster understanding, communication, and a sense of agency during an often-overwhelming time.