Though a COPD diagnosis can be hard to cope with, there are online groups and websites that can help you stay in the loop about current findings, as well as keep you active with other people.
We pulled together some valuable and informational websites that can help keep you informed and educated on the recent discoveries of COPD.
We also found some online groups we think you should join as they can help boost your mood and help you connect with people who are going through similar situations as you.
There are also some ways to find local in-person support groups for your COPD, or similar diseases that can help you connect with a group of people in person, in your local environment.
Therapy is also an option for your diagnosis, if you do not feel like you are handling it well and want to talk to someone about it.
The most important thing for your COPD diagnosis is to speak out about it or get help if you have a hard time with the diagnosis.
Good Online Resources:
Learning more about your disease can keep you educated and up to date about current medications and new trials. Educating yourself can help you stay ahead of the game and look into a treatment plan your doctor and you may not have thought about before.
The American Lung Association runs Lung.org, making it a reputable site. The provide their readers with current information about COPD and like lung diseases. They also have information about how to go about everyday tasks. Keeping their information up to date and posting events near your city.
Everyday Health is also a great resource for COPD patients, as they have many articles about COPD and how to live with the disease. Their resources have useful information about how to manage your disease, symptoms, and what to do in emergency situations. They provide a positive tone and honesty about COPD.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has multiple aspects to their website, all can be beneficial to COPD patients. Not only do they have current articles about how to go about daily activities (traveling with medication, keeping cool in hot weather, ticks), but they also provide current outbreaks of infections and disease. This can keep you prepared for any trips or outdoor activities.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute posts current research and findings that their researchers have discovered. Their site also has current trials, what they find to prevent or lessen the severity of diseases as well as current news on their findings. Their site is more scientific, but it still posts very important information.
Online Support Groups:
Though many of these are on Facebook, they are still valuable sources for news, and can keep you in a positive, upbeat mindset, as many people in these groups do.
Facebook.com
Facebook has a few groups that we have found to be positive, fun and informational for COPD patients. They can be a great outlet to ask questions, get advice and relate to others with the same condition.
This page is constantly posts current articles about COPD, like what to eat, plants you should buy, as well as general articles that can benefit COPD patients alike. Though it does not have a lot of patient posts, they do have a lot of comments on their articles, where you can discuss the article and learn others points of view.
With a focus on factual articles, the COPD Foundation Facebook page is a great resource. They post a lot of COPD news articles and keep their followers informed on current medications, studies and research.
This group is full of positive and education COPD patients and they all care for each other in the group. Checking in on each other and giving updates on current world news, or personal news.
This is our own support group, filled with a great group of people who often share funny and uplifting pictures. With some serious questions, comments and articles, this is an informational group that prefers to keep posts and comments positive.
Another good resource to use and connect with others, MyCOPDTeam lets you find others who live near you. It’s similar to Facebook, allowing you to post a status about how you are feeling as well as post on other COPD patients walls/pages.
Another resource available through the American Lung Association, they offer online community groups for support. Allowing you to ask questions and talk to others with COPD, it is a great group to join if you want to be informed. There are multiple groups you can join and even a group to help you quit smoking.
In-Person Support:
The American Lung Association has a “Better Breathers Club” which is an in-person meeting group. They have meeting locations around the country, and you can find one near you by calling 1-800-LUNGUSA.
You can also contact your local hospital to see if they have any support groups that would suit your needs. Many hospitals have meeting rooms for those meetings, or you can see if you can set up a meeting and start your own group.
If you feel as though you are going down a dark path after your diagnosis, you can reach out to a therapist. Getting psychological help can be beneficial to those with feel they are no longer in a positive mind space.
Conclusion:
Informational websites about COPD can help you understand your diagnosis and keep you in the loop about current studies and new information scientists have discovered.
Though it can seem like a lonely journey, your COPD diagnosis doesn’t need to be. It can be helpful to find others to connect with, who also have COPD.
Finding others on Facebook or other online resources can be beneficial to your mental health.
Looking into local therapy, in groups or one on one can also help you accept your diagnosis and turn to a more positive mindset.
You may also find COPD groups that meet up locally and get together every once in a while to catch up, and talk about current diagnosis’.
It is important to find people to talk to when diagnosed with COPD, or similar respiratory diseases.
Your doctor may also be a good resource for an in-person meeting near you, speaking with him or her can lead you to helpful resources.