Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD can be a terrible thing to cope with – not just for the person who suffers from it but also everyone around him, including his family and his friends. This is why you need support at this time – not just the support of treatment to make things better physically but also support from an emotional, mental and spiritual point of view.
First off, you need to make things better for yourself by making lifestyle changes. Avoiding all environments that could be bad for the disease as well as eating the right foods and having the right mental attitude can go a long way in coping with this disease better. You will have to decide to be an active participant in getting better, not a silent bystander watching to see if the medication and lines of treatment are working or not. You will also need to voice your feelings and thoughts about what you want done and how you would like to live your life. Don’t shy away from what is to come. You will need to face it and deal with it as best you can. Counseling helps in this area and you might want to join a support group or a program where you can see how to live life with COPD on your terms. Being with other people who are going through the same thing will help you deal with things better. Otherwise, when you are always with healthy people, depression could set in. If this happens, or if you have suicidal thoughts, always remember to call a helpline so you can talk to someone. You need to be prepared with these telephone numbers for an emergency, Talk to a loved one if necessary and bare your soul if need be. Don’t bottle things up because that is the road to despair.
If you want to continue working, you just need to do a few things to be able to do so. First, talk to the people in the office and explain the situation. Keep your medications with you at all times. Also keep a portable oxygen unit in case of emergencies. Keep the doctor’s number with someone, to be used if needed. If you try and be as normal as you can, you’ll find it much better to cope than to be home alone and moping.
The key to coping with COPD is acceptance. Accept that you can cure the disease and you cannot change the course of things. Also accept that you can stall the progress of the disease with treatment and changes in your life. Accept that you have time left to do many of the things you want to do – and do them. You can even travel today – all you need to do is to let the airline know about your condition in advance. Depending on the stage the COPD is in, you might have to change your job or cut down on some of your activities. Be practical and do how much you can – don’t bite off more than you can chew. Accept the fact that you cannot do whatever you did earlier. Keep your doctor in the loop and keep him apprised of your progress and your problems so he can monitor your medication, the strengths and the dosages.
Don’t fall prey to the blues – you need to wake up, get dressed everyday, go out for a bit even if you are not working and meet people, pursue a hobby or get involved in some charitable activity. If you lounge around in your pajamas all day long feeling sorry for yourself, you will lose the will to make life better.
Think of the life ahead of you practically and make arrangements for the time when you might need assistance and care. Talk to your loved ones and get suggestions. Try and stay independent for as long as you can and when you cannot anymore, accept the help you need gracefully.
Most of all, you need to de-stress yourself and you can do this with the help of family, friends and relaxing activities or you can join a class to learn meditation and relaxation techniques. Get rid of the stress factors in your life – your work, your relationships or your environment. Relax and take each day as it comes, making the best of that day. Surround yourself with people who care and people who are positive, Laughter is a great factor when it comes to de-stressing yourself. Watch a funny movie with friends, go watch a game you like and spend time with loved ones cracking jokes or reminiscing about happy times. Yet another important factor to lead a stress-free life is sleep – get your quota of sleep every day. Try and follow a very clear routine everyday – whether it is work, sleep or play. Eat right and avoid too much caffeine, processed foods and sugar. Include fruits and vegetables in your diet and drink lots of water. This is essential to flush out the toxins from your system.
You need to tell yourself you can cope. Don’t depend on others emotionally – try and be strong within yourself. Accept others’ help and support but don’t grow to depend on them. You need to feel that you can cope – and you will.