Background: More people survive today after a cardiac arrest and one of the reasons could be because more civilians are now trained in CPR. Defibrillators are deployed in public places to quickly save lives. There is more to examine in cardiac arrest than just physically and mentally limitations. Patients experience anxiety and existential issues that can come with a cardiac arrest.

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate patient’s experiences after surviving a cardiac arrest.

Method: A qualitative literature-based method was employed by using Friberg’s five-step analysis. Seven articles were included in the analysis.

Results: Two themes and four subthemes were made visible from the compilation of the results of the seven articles. Patients experience a struggle with their identity and experience both anxiety, existential issues and physical issues. A comparison between the past and the present is in the headlights after a cardiac arrest and patients are dependent on the support of healthcare staff.

Conclusion: There are physical limitations that lead to inactivity in patients related fear of a new cardiac arrest. Patients need to reflect on the event and talk about their fears to reduce anxiety and unanswered questions. Several patients experience a fear of going home, where there are no staff. They are worried about having a new cardiac arrest and dying in solitude. A structured plan is needed to be followed when discharged from the hospital to reduce patient’s anxiety.