Anxiety

Hi again, Carol, and thanks for this post, too. I see you did post something similar elsewhere on our COPD.net platform, for which I was able to provide a reply.
For your convenience, here is a link to that conversation: https://copd.net/forums/ssri-for-anxiety-for-copd.
I do hope you have an opportunity to look over the comment.
Wishing you well,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)

Hi, again, Carol! I separate this stuff into two areas: For me, anxiety is unease caused by fears that are in my head. Stress is unease caused by fears related to stuff outside my head. Most of the time, my blood pressure and heart rate issues are ties to stress. Now, the next step for me is to identify and name the fears causing that stress. Stuff happening outside my head is always easier to ID than stuff inside it. MY biggest fears can always be broken down into specific things. Fear for my physical safety is the biggest one, and includes things like - Am I going to get through this? Am I on the right meds? Is my illness going to beat me? I have learned that there is a very effective way to combat this kind of stress. Learn more. The more I learn about the details and facts of COPD and how it relates to my blood pressure, how my body literally works, and the better I understand it, the better I feel, because the new knowledge lets me ask better questions and find better answers. My doctor likes that. And apparently my brain likes it too, because whenever I make a breakthrough in understanding more, the more my fear dissipates, and the more I am able to relax and realize that I am doing okay. Instead of hanging off the edge of a cliff in terror, I am learning more each day about the disease, its complications, how the meds and other therapies work to strengthen me and help my body handle things better.


It kind of comes in waves. Sometimes I just get a clue to what is setting my brain off, and sometimes I don't get one and have to dig a new hole in the blank wall of all that I have yet to learn but learning something new always helps. Always. It's amazing how it works. Heck, I learn stuff here every day, sometimes by accident! I also have other friends with this disease who I talk with constantly and we share our experiences. I read up on meds, treatments, things about diet and exercise, you name it. And I have made huge progress in only a year! So, I make it a habit to try and learn every day. My computer is very helpful. I pester my doctor and nurses and therapists with questions too. When I need to know, I find out. Every little bit of new info builds me up by adding another piece of the puzzle. I have learned that knowledge is armor, and also food for my brain. My goal is to reach a point where I know I am doing everything possible to help my body. It's a complicated thing, but I am working on it. Give it a try and see if it helps you too. And pester your doctor. Remember, the more you learn, the better it will get. Keep us informed too and ask questions here. There are a lot of excellent people with excellent answers on here. Be encouraged! It feels good.