My Therapy

Sometimes in life, I have felt sad, defeated, happy, tired, excited, free, loved, goofy! I find that my happy place is doing something positive, something that I can see, share and/or give.

I think, this is why I’ve always enjoyed crafts. The most difficult is when my mind doesn’t function and I have trouble visualizing and even thinking about what I should do or can do. Some of that too, is a defeatist attitude. This happens when someone I care for is going through something or when I’m struggling with family things or health issues. However, the majority of time, I try to push it all aside. Being able to function is so important to me.

My Therapy

Crafts are a wonderful therapy. I enjoy creating videos for family member’s graduations and weddings. All types of crafts have brought joy. I used to like embroidery and all types of baking too, but struggle to do that anymore. Mainly because of my back and arthritic hands. My new passion is wreaths. Physically I can work on them for some time without too many problems and can tell when my body says stop. I do have to be careful to avoid products that can affect my breathing. If something is dusty, someone has to shake them out for me or to use canned air, which is wonderful. They are shaken outside of course. Dust is one thing that can trigger an exacerbation, as well as chemicals. I am so thankful for the person who created sticks of glue and a glue gun.

I love to write as well. There is nothing as freeing as writing. It started in school, with printing and then cursive writing. It progressed to letter writing, to family and friends. Then in a diary, throughout school and will continue for the rest of my life. I have trouble reading my handwriting more often now, there is that little shake, so I do use the computer more and more often, texting too. But writing also means more than pencil and pen on paper. Writing can be a mental challenge as well.

Writing as Therapy

Writing poetry and short stories were so fun, they frequently told of an experience or the way I felt. This was big in my teens. My mom was my greatest encourager. I still enjoy writing. Now it is more writing health articles and stories as I am do here.

Sometimes I stumble with a brain block. When I haven’t been able to think of what to write, or what might interest you. Maybe telling you I have brain blocks or brain fog might let you know that if you feel these, you aren’t alone. Do you feel that way? Mine seems to happen if my oxygen is low, when I’m having an exacerbation or when I’m feeling more severe pain.

We all have similar symptoms and things that we go through, yet they are uniquely ours. However, we can learn and grow with others in our COPD journeys. In our COPD community here, people care and we are never alone.