depression and COPD

I wear it in public also and most people have compassion and go out of their way to open doors and let me by. I have to use oxygen to live and don't really care what they think. I feel the same way when I see someone in a wheelchair.

I can completely relate. I was always very active, had physical jobs and much of a DIY person. As my copd got worse, I really got discouraged. I finally had to start getting up and doing what I can and doing it slower. Increased my O2 settings while busy and backing down when not needed. When you are grateful about what you have, it makes depression easier.

It was hard for me as well! I then realized people were in wheelchairs and some also on oxygen. It’s part of life. I’m not going to be ashamed. We are not alone!

Maybe I should not post this I don't know but tell me if I am off base.
I love that I have tanks to take me out! I love that I could do more for longer than without the tanks.
I don't care what people think and i too find most people simply care a lot!
The part I am wondering if I should say is this: Two years ago my husband died. This year my son died. I would give anything to have them back! I have anxiety that keeps me in at this time and I hate depression!

My idea is to say Be grateful you can go out and about ! Enjoy every moment you can!

@punkybauer thank you for your comments. You point out that being grateful for what we have is so important. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your husband and son.

@jerdonus thank you for your reply..

@stevelc Thank you for your reply which I can relate to. I was always active and now find limitations so challenging emotionally. I will try to concentrate on what I can do.

@loveroflakes I completely understand how you feel. I've always been very independent -- often by necessity/not choice -- and I don't have close family. My few friends have literally all moved out of state so it's pretty much me + the 2 cats. And you know how helpful cats are, right?? 🙂 For my depression and anxiety, I exercise consistently, even if it's just a few stretches on a difficult day, do breathing exercises, and listen to/read spiritually encouraging stuff which in my case is Buddhist philosophy. Here are a couple of examples that help me find comfort in the knowledge that everyone is in this together and we all experience some variation of the same challenges, losses: "All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them". As many have noted: Change is the only thing we can be really sure of. Sometimes the changes are good and sometimes they're not what we hoped for. For the start of a day or a new week or new year: "May I carry forward what truly matters." "May our world remember its own goodness." I'll keep you in my heart today and hope it is a good day for you.

@punkybauer I really dislike that our current culture doesn't acknowledge loss and grief -- whether it's from aging, illness, loss of a loved one (including pets!) or something else. Grieving is natural and shows how we valued the person or situation we've lost. It's culturally approved to be 'strong' than to admit weakness of any kind, for instance. How completely unrealistic is that, right? We have to start with ourselves, forgiving ourselves for harm we've done, knowingly or unknowingly, for not being the person we think we should be, and, as you've said, recognizing what we do have and how hard we've tried to be whatever we think we should be. If we treat ourselves poorly it's much harder to feel kindness and compassion toward others, as well. And, because I love Mary Oliver, here's an excerpt from one of her morning poems:

"it is a serious thing

just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world."

Bless you and I hope your day will be a good one.