Managing Anxiety with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a term used to describe various specific conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema that make it challenging to breathe all the time freely. While its physical symptoms are difficult to manage, people with COPD diagnoses often have a higher rate of anxiety associated with the disease itself. Managing this emotional response is an important part of living the highest quality life possible.

Why COPD Patients Also Have Anxiety

The inability to breathe comfortably can definitely trigger an emotional response. Feeling short of breath makes you nervous and can interrupt your everyday life to the degree that you can no longer participate in stress-relieving activities. Lack of oxygen actually triggers the body’s natural stress response. Whether in a regular treatment or hospice & palliative care situations, managing this COPD-related anxiety is an important part of taking proper care of the affected person.

Do Not Ignore Anxiety Issues

Admitting to anxiousness and nervousness can ramp up the problem even more. However, ignoring it will never make it go away. You would not avoid getting proper treatment for your COPD, so why would you avoid getting help with anxiety? Suppose you are a family member or close friend of an elderly or infirm person with cardiopulmonary disease diagnosis. In that case, you should remain aware of the risk of anxiety affecting them in various ways.

Support Systems and Management Tips

LifeChoice in Wheeling, IL hospice & palliative care teams understands the correlation between breathing troubles and emotional response. Having this type of professional support system to make it easier to manage symptoms and learn about coping skills can help everyone overcome the issues.

While anti-anxiety medication may be part of the treatment plan, it is also possible to help alleviate some of the symptoms with careful breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, cognitive behavioural therapy to counteract the possibility of panic attacks, rehabilitation to improve overall breathing ability, and other activities like yoga, meditation, and more.

If you wish to learn more on how Hospice & Palliative care can help you, call us today 847-777-8888