Asthma, your mood and anxiety

7) Coping

There are many strategies to help you better manage your physical and emotional wellbeing. One small change can have a positive impact in many other ways.

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There are many strategies to help you better manage your physical and emotional wellbeing. One small change can have a positive impact in many other ways.

  • Thoughts: “Oh I’m breathless…. Remind yourself there are strategies you can use to help. Coping strategy: Stop, position yourself, use breathing control and distraction
  • Behaviours: Watch out for avoidance, and use problem solving and goal setting to help you work out a plan for maintaining a good routine
  • Physical change: Notice increased breathlessness, or other symptoms. Remind yourself anxiety is a normal response, it is your bodies way of trying to help you in situations which you find difficult or in which you worry about your ability to cope. Remember there are strategies you can practice which help you manage and stay in control of physical change. Coping strategies: Stop, position yourself, use breathing control, distraction, relaxation, pacing.
  • Emotions: Emotional change is normal, don’t be surprised if you experience a range of emotions related to living with a lung condition. Learning about your lung condition, and how to manage it, will help you in knowing what to do and in practicing the self management strategies that work for you

Remember, anxiety is normal. Practicing coping strategies and introducing one small change can have a positive impact on your wellbeing in many ways.