COPD journey: From Fear to Control

What About Fear and COPD?

You might feel that COPD has taken a lot away from you, and that your life – as you knew it – is gone. So, what do you do about this? In this series of blog posts, we’re looking at seven common emotions found in life with COPD, and finding pathways to help you begin to work through them so you can go forward to live your best possible life with COPD!

Emotional Issue #2: Fear

“Knowing I have COPD scares me. A lot. I’ve always been a strong person so I can’t let anybody know how frightening this is for me.”

Wow, that’s a lot to cope with – having a progressive, currently incurable lung disease and being frightened about what comes next, while trying to stay strong and calm for your loved ones. That’s a whole lot to deal with!

Ask yourself...

“Have I ever been fearful or afraid related to my COPD?”

If so, what is my specific fear? Am I afraid...

• I might have a breathing attack when I go out?
• I’ll get a cold that turns into pneumonia and have to be admitted to the hospital?
• I’ll get sick and go “downhill” and never gain back what I’ve lost?
• Afraid for my loved ones if something should happen to me?

It’s Normal

Before we go any further, it’s important to know that it’s normal to be scared about having COPD and the feelings it may bring on. Give yourself a minute to let that sink in.

“Okay, so it’s normal for me to be scared. What now?”

Well, a big part of these fears is feeling like things are out of your control. But when you learn about COPD and how it's possible to manage it, you will be more in control, have less fear, and more confidence to go forward and live your best possible quality of life.

Fear vs. Concern

There’s a difference between being fearful and being concerned. Being concerned about something can be good. It shows that you’re giving thought to what’s going on. And once you know what’s going on, you can use what you’ve learned to make things better. When you do this, you’re changing your fear and lack of control to action and hopefully taking control of the problem. Here are two examples of common fears and how learning to manage your COPD effectively can help.

COMMON FEAR: “I’m afraid I’ll get out in public and have a breathing attack.”

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN: Using the right breathing techniques, and doing them correctly, can go a long way in helping you move more air in and out of your lungs and stay in control of your breathing. Watch our videos on Instagram to learn different breathing techniques that can help you gain better control.

COMMON FEAR: “I’m afraid I’ll have a COPD exacerbation, get pneumonia, go downhill, and never fully recover to where I was before that exacerbation.”

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN: If you know about early warning signs of a possible COPD exacerbation and work with your doctor to stop those symptoms before they get worse, you have a much better chance of staying well, staying home, and keeping on living your life. You can also get timely flu shots and pneumonia vaccines to prevent severe infections.

Summary Points:

• It’s normal to be scared: Fear is a natural response, but learning about your condition can help you take control and manage it.
• Fear vs Concern: Concern is healthy and helps you take action, while fear can be paralyzing.
• Breathing techniques: Proper breathing techniques can help manage breathlessness and anxiety, making it easier to stay calm.
• Recognize early symptoms: By identifying warning signs early, you can prevent exacerbations and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.

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Learn more about easing your shortness of breath with PEP Buddy today.

This blog post is not intended as medical advice and should not replace the guidance of a healthcare provider. If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, please contact an authorized medical or behavioral health provider.