I maintain my morning rituals to keep COPD from shrinking my world
Getting dressed tells me that I’m still participating in my own life
Written by |
Some mornings, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) feels like it has already made the first decision for me. Before I even swing my legs over the side of the bed, the tightness in my chest tells me what kind of day it’s going to be. On those days, I catch myself wondering why I should bother with getting dressed, combing my hair, or brushing my teeth. None of it will make my lungs work better. No one is coming to visit. I’m not going anywhere. It can feel like a waste of the little energy I have.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned, slowly and sometimes stubbornly: These small acts aren’t about curing anything. They’re about remembering who I am inside the illness.
COPD has a way of shrinking the world. It narrows the radius of your day, limits your choices, and can chip away at your confidence without you even noticing. When breath becomes unpredictable, self‑esteem can follow. You start to feel less like the person you’ve always been and more like a patient managing symptoms. And that shift — quiet, gradual, unspoken — can be just as hard as the physical part.
That’s why the morning rituals matter. Getting dressed isn’t about impressing anyone. It’s about saying to yourself, “I’m still participating in my own life.” Brushing your teeth doesn’t change your oxygen saturation, but it changes how you meet yourself in the mirror. Combing your hair doesn’t open your airways, but it opens a small door back to dignity.
These are not chores. They’re anchors.
On days when COPD makes the world feel small, these rituals help keep you from shrinking inside it. They remind your nervous system that the day still belongs to you, even if you’re not leaving the house. They help rebuild the self‑esteem that chronic illness can quietly erode. And they offer a kind of steadiness that medication alone can’t provide.
I’ve learned that getting dressed is not about pretending to be well. It’s about refusing to disappear. It’s about choosing to show up for yourself, even when no one else will see it. Especially then.
COPD may shape my days, but it doesn’t get to erase them. And so I get up. I get dressed. I brush my teeth. I comb my hair. Not because it fixes anything in my lungs, but because it strengthens something in my spirit. Because these small acts remind me that I am still here, still myself, still worthy of care.
And that is never a waste of time.
Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.