Panic attacks and COPD

Janis, to slow the progression of this disease, you need to quit smoking, exercise daily, eat healthily, take your meds correctly, get plenty of rest, and keep a good attitude!!

Smoking is the worst of all! It is what makes it worse! I can't stress that enough!

I hope that you have neighbors close by and some type of backup plan in case of an emergency. You didn't mention oxygen, so I am assuming that you don't use supplemental O2.

Take care and may you breathe easy...

~Bonita~

Thanks Bonita for your kind words....the smoking is the worst part...I can't seem to kick the habit...I am not on O2....when I exercise..I have extreme fatigue...

I am looking into going on the patch.

thanks

Janis

C'mon . . . Give it your best shot. You can do it, especially as you have no oxygen requirement at present. Quitting smoking is quite easy when you suddenly realise that you still have much to do.

ok David...what is it you have to do?  

Perhaps that is the problem...I don't seem to have a lot of goals...or things I want t do...travelling is kinda out of the question, as I seem to catch a cold ever time, that makes the COPD worse.

I guess it is a NO-BRAINER...that smoking deteriorates your condition...faster than normal...I feel really stupid that I am smokng...believe me...Guess I gotta start to care a bit more about me.

 

Hi I am mild copd and have been for 7 years now.  I am still smoking too and know I must try again to kick the habit.  It's very hard though isn't it?  

To me it's also part of the self care thing which I am very bad at as I also suffer from depression.  I often think I have a death wish!   I don't mind the idea of death but the thought of dying slowly on oxygen and gasping for breath is horrifying.  Death yes,  pain and suffering no.  x

 

hypercat....

thanks for the understanding...anxiety , depression and COPD...I have all three....and I must really try to stop smokking...or at least get to 3/day.

Self care is paramount to any healing....trying to go to gym and swim...used to do 10 laps...now 1 lap had me gasping...rude awakening

Hi I have all 3 as well!  Separated at birth?    x

to janis and hypercat

there is a book called 

The Healing Power of the Breath

by Brown, Richard P.

It includes simple techniques to reduce stress and anxiety, its helpful also for people with depressions, thos with COPD and Asthma, and is helpful in many other situations, helps aid concentration, balance emotions and the techniques can be used in any number of life situations.

The book comes with a CD to help familiarize the reader with breathing exercises and at the back of the book there are tips for people with respiratory problems.

Perhaps this title may be of help to you or others.

A friend of mine with severe emphysema is using it and finding it very helpful,  I got a copy myself as I can identify that it is the sort of thing very useful in stressful or emotional crisis situations like when a member of the family is going through even greater difficulty and more life threatening situations than we may be ourselves.

 

I have read all comments on this thread with great interest. It is safe to say that most of us have had reverses in our lives, some more serious than others. Perhaps reactions to events vary from one individual to the next, and some recover faster than others.

Would it be fair to try and separate anxiety and depression from COPD? I can readily accept that acute shortness of breath can bring on a panic attack, which was the original theme of the discussion. And I have certainly heard incidents of panic attacks in normally healthy people.

It is also worth mentioning that my brother-in-law is again in the throes of serious depression, and any encouragement I can give him is of very limited value. He is and has been an eminent figure in clinical psychology and family counselling, yet has been clinically depressed for most of his adult life. He has seemingly never found any solution.

I had another browse of standard medication for the condition, and quickly concluded that side-effects and withdrawal symptoms are alarming. It therefore seems to me that wherever possible each of us should weather the storms without falling back on the "props". Smoking almost certainly falls into this category.  

David...yes smoking is a prop....just like everything that is done without moderation...there are a lot healthier props out there and I agree about all the medication for depression...horrid.....sorry to hear about your brother...I can relate...seems like your thoughts have a lot to do with how you feel....change your thoughts and you change how you feel...easier said than done...but it is the truth...

Janis

Thank you but I know those but they don't really help me.  x

 

the book mentioned, will have no side affects except to help those who practise the breathing methods and absorb the information in the book, they may feel, calmer, more relaxed, less stressed etc etc.  I don't consider a book a prop at all  

And for sure not everyone with COPD gets anxiety or depression clinical or otherwise.  But Initially when people are diagnosed it can occur while lifestyle adustments are made, and the time it takes to understanding the illness better and how to manage symptoms.  Its not an easy time for any one initially. 

For instance the pulmonary rehabilitation course includes information on anxiety and depression and it is recommended that patients not only seek professional help at these time but it is encourage to spend time each day doing a relaxation practise, and have mindful focus on the breath.  The latter is part of what the book content is about, but the breathing taught in the book is slight different to that taught at PR for instance.

Some people will / can and do benefit from self help methods such as this, it is acknowledge that for some it will not help them, and it is difficult to get any one in the depths of depression to focus on something positive at all, but a good time for them to consider such an option of self help would be when they have come out of the dark space.  Then should they learn the methods could be better prepared when the dark cloud begins to decend again.

Do hope your brother in law doesn't stay too long where he is currently at.

Best wishes V

 

Thanks Vee2..I have ordered the book through, my best seller here in Canada...thanks you tons...looking forwards to getting it and reading!

Janis

Hope you find it helpful janis  

Best wishes V