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Coping with COPD Anxiety

Anxiety can be a good thing for people living with a chronic illness — it forces them to pay close attention to symptoms, follow a treatment plan and seek out medical attention when necessary. However, too much anxiety can have a negative impact on the quality of life, especially for those who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Anxiety can create a dangerous cycle for COPD sufferers because feelings of breathlessness can provoke panic. This can make people feel more anxious and make breathing even harder. Even worse, this cycle can make it difficult to distinguish the symptoms of anxiety from the symptoms of COPD.

There are some anti-anxiety medications that are safe for COPD sufferers to take which, when combined with other methods, can reduce anxiety. Also, techniques such as pursed-lip breathing can help take the work out of breathing while helping people learn to relax.

Another effective method in reducing anxiety is counseling. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps decrease anxiety symptoms through relaxation and breathing exercises, while group counseling can make COPD sufferers feel less alone by bringing them together with others who are working through similar issues.

Read the whole story for more on coping with anxiety.