Try thinking about how your COPD affects you physically, emotionally and socially.
At different times these three parts in your life may be more or less important. There may be times when all three parts are having an impact on how you are coping.
Once you know how these affect you, telling this to others will be easier and you can start to think about ways you have used to cope with similar situations in the past.
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Physical impact symptoms can include:
- Pain
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Short of breath
Social impact, for example:
- Difficulty getting out and about
- Change of role in the family
- Being off work or unemployed through ill health
Emotional impact, for example
- Stress
- Low mood
- Fear
- Anger
- Guilt
- Frustration
