All the Positives That Came With My COPD Diagnosis

I know that there are a lot of negative things that go with having COPD, but there have been a lot of positives that have come with it for me as well.

It took me a while to see this, but it is so true. When I look back at my journey from where it started to where I am today, I am in a much better place than I was back then.

Navigating the five stages of COPD grief

There are five stages of grief, and I think every one of us has been through or will go through it. You may say that we didn't have a death, but in a sense, we have.

We have lost our old self. The person that we were before the COPD.

I remember going through these stages and sometimes will go back for a bit, but only for a day or two. I wouldn't sit there in that grief for more than that day.

There is no reason to do so, and it isn't good for our mental health. The five stages are:

• Denial
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Acceptance

Finding gratitude in life's challenges

I've been through each one, but when I finally came to acceptance, I finally saw all the great things that have happened to me since my diagnosis. Here are just a few.

First of all, my family time became much more precious and valuable. When we realized that tomorrow is never promised, I thought we all loved, lived, and cherished more.

Second, the friends that I have made in the COPD and Alpha-1 communities are like gold. I cherish the friendships that I have made, and many of them are like family to me.

Third, I have gotten to travel, see more things than ever, and broaden my knowledge by becoming an Alpha 1 Support Group Leader and attending all of the National Conference and Education Days each year.

I have learned to help others and advocate for myself and others. I am still learning something new each day and love to share any new things that I learn.

Lastly, over the last three years, I have had a great opportunity to join the amazing COPD community at COPD.net. Through my colleagues here and all of you on our forums, I have made many more friends, written articles, and learned even more about COPD.

Embracing your community

You all join in our conversations, step up, and share your stories with us. We learn from each other and can relate to what we are all going through.

There are so many more good things that have come from having COPD. There are too many to write about, but these things make me happy and keep me going. We have all seen the bad parts, but let's just concentrate on the positive aspects it has brought us.

If you are new to this journey and still going through those five stages, hang in there! You will have some good memories and good days. You are not alone, and we are all here for you.

Have you had some positive that has come from having COPD? Please share your experience in the comments below or share your story in our forums.