If you are a person living with COPD, or the caregiver of somebody diagnosed with COPD, you know that when you’re impacted by this disease, it’s not like you can punch a clock, walk out the door, and be away from COPD until you go back into work the next day. No, if you have COPD, a chronic, progressive disease, it is always with you. Always. And this can be very stressful.
There may be days when you say to yourself, “Okay, I’ve got to be able to do this – to take care of things every day, all day, related to my COPD or my spouse’s COPD. And in order to do that, I just have to keep on going and pedal faster.” So, maybe you see yourself as a person who simply doesn’t have the luxury of taking a break or getting away from the stress.
My friends, it may be possible to take some kind of break. It’s important to know that there is value in allowing yourself to step back, if only for a short time. That’s right, there is value in doing something just for you. No, this is not being selfish. It is, simply, taking good care of yourself.
So, what kind of break would this be? Let’s take a look. A break may range from not doing something for 15 minutes, all the way to doing something for several days.
A break might be taking 15-minutes away from bad/sad news. This would mean turning off the news on television or radio, or not stopping at the news feed that pops up on your screen.
A break could be listening to your favorite music, reading a book, listening to an audio book, writing down your feelings, talking with a friend, clergy, or counselor, stretching, exercising, doing yoga or tai chi, getting a massage, or something else. Something possible right now for most of us north of the equator is to sit outside, watch the birds and other creatures, or just look a little more closely at flowers and trees. (See the resources at the end of this blog post for information on coping with stress through the Guides to Better Living on Coping with COPD.)
Another form of respite could be staying away from your usual social media outlets for a day or longer.
For some folks it is possible to travel to a getaway vacation. It takes some planning, but it is doable. (See the resources at the end of this blog post for information on traveling with COPD.)
Remember, just like a medical treatment, taking care of your mental and emotional well-being is part of the equation in helping you to live well with COPD.
If you’re a person diagnosed with COPD, do you ever feel like you need a break? How do you renew and refresh? Do you have a way to step away from stresses and do something for yourself that is just for you? If you’re a caregiver, have you found a way to take a break?
Let’s talk! Your tips may be helpful to others. Your questions are important. I look forward to hearing from you!
For information on traveling with COPD, see Traveling with COPD | COPD Foundation
For information on caregiving, see The COPD Caregiver | COPD Foundation.
For printed information on coping and traveling with COPD, you may download the guides on coping and travel by following this link COPD Foundation Educational Materials. Any or all of the nine Guides to Better Living are available for free download. To purchase go to COPD Patient Education Online Catalog | COPD Foundation.