when l first found out that l had copd,l said to myself l am going to die young,here l am at 81 and still waitting,so you can see it takes a long time.take one day at a time like l do and believe in the Lord above.he has been with me all along.Amen.

I've been thinking about this question for a couple of day's now and come up with many answers. Profound anger at having to deal with it but after the anger subsides I deal with it and consider my self pretty fortunate.
Before I was diagnosed I thought I was pretty infallible having smoked since the age of 12. I used to brag that the most consistent thing I did my whole life was smoke. It was a bonding thing whenever I would talk to friends or just a reward for finishing a task. While removing my next cigarette from the package I would sometimes read the warning, and thought that would happen to you not me.
So now after having this now for four years and at level four 24-7 oxygen I have a hard time of accepting the limitations COPD has caused me along with altering my life. Yet the good thing is it has brought me closer to my Higher Power and that I'm not so infallible after all and that I've actually been given a reprieve in how I live my life today with gratitude.
The one piece of advise I would give to a new member is get off the pity pot. It does one no good to feel depressed all the time over circumstances beyond your control.

First, lose the guilt about smoking. It's a waste of time and energy. Spend that energy doing something positive like exercising. Second, learn everything you can about the condition so you can be a smart, knowledgeable patient who can be a partner with your doc, understand the reasons for various treatments and keep track of new developments in the field. You will haveway more time than your doc to read and research. Third, develop an exercise habit and exercise every day at least 30 minutes. I suggest www.copdfoundation.org as one of the best sites for educational materials.

I am angry about having COPD. Sometimes I feel like I am being paid back for smoking. The one normal thing I lost was being able to take care of myself. I would tell new members to never quit exercising like I did. If you do you will be bed ridden because you will get sob every time you move.

A positive attitude is 90% of dealing with COPD along with a whole lot of humor.