@A MyCOPDTeam Member...Excellent post! I, too, go into self-pity mode at times...I guess we all do. But then I take a walk, like you said, with my puppy...or I start counting my blessings, especially the tiny ones like maybe a little squirrel outside gathering nuts...or a nice mug of hot chocolate...stuff like that. Unless one monitors their thoughts closely, it's easy to get worrisome and negative, and that just spirals downward. Best to catch oneself right away. We cannot stop a thought from entering our minds, but we can stop it from nesting there! Thanks for your post...sending God's Blessings your way!

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A MyCOPDT...

Organise your day give yourself time to get ready for appointments gone are the days when you could roll out of bed and out the door before you wake up properly and realise your where you are supposed to be it takes planning what you will wear where you are going and what time do you have to be there and don't forget to breathe x

Sorry but I don't have anxiety because I don't have the time for that!
Probably I have COPD for a long time before my new doctor discovered it 17 years ago.
I'm always busy with work and my garden and my dog so I never worrie about it.
I think the First case of anxiety is emptiness in your life.
You're so affraid that you get out of breath so you don't try anything anymore.
That is the bigger mistakes you can make because my doctor is telling me that I'm very fortunate of Boeing busy because that's slowing down the process.
So I have 60 % left and for 4 years ago it was 73%. I also have to admit that I still smoke for 54 years now and cant stop! 3 years ago I have 2 x an operation on my vocalcords because of oedemas on my cords.
I have a full live and life it to the fullest for as long as I can.
Next year I'm planning to emigrate to Spain because I feel better there and going to enjoy my retirement for as far as I can sit still.
I'm finished with The Netherlands that's why I'm working in housekeeping to earn extra money for my plan.
Did it this morning for 3 hours and now I feel tired but satisfied so I'm gone do a small afternoon nap!
Hope that this helps and I don't get another attack by saying that I don't have COPD.

Anxiety attacks are caused by mismanagement of stress. You've got to challenge all worrisome/negative thoughts, and replace them with calming thoughts. Read up on bringing your stress level down. I take natural stuff (much better for you than meds, but you have to do what's comfortable for you), which includes Mood Formula by Vita Logic (one morning and one at night)--and then once in awhile for bad days GABA by Pure Life (also natural--it works as well as an anti-depressant). Whatever you do, DO NOT be afraid of the attacks, as that makes them worse. Just accept them, learn to get through them--even give them a funny name, like 'Oh, here comes that pesky Herbie again.' Stuff like that. They WILL not hurt you...it's just kinda of like having a nightmare during the day, but they will not do anything more than scare the heck out of you for a certain amount of minutes. Breath 'slow/low' (where belly button goes in and out)...4 slow breaths in through nose...hold it a bit...then 4 slow breaths out through the mouth. Most importantly, pray...look up comforting verses in the Bible...God will always be by your side if you ask Him to be--God is key in overcoming these scary things. Sending Blessings and hugs your way!!

I just take what they called one minute vacation close my eyes and think of a beautiful place I've been in the past where I was at peace