Taking care of yourself and your mind is an important
part of keeping your asthma under control.
Studies show that people with chronic conditions tend to have poorer mental health compared to people without chronic conditions.1,2
It’s also true that stress or strong emotions can trigger asthma symptoms.3 It doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to have poorer mental health when living with asthma. However, it does mean you should be extra vigilant about taking care of yourself and your condition.
You should always speak to your doctor if you are concerned about your mental health, but there are also things you can do to improve your sense of self and overall wellbeing.
Discover these four steps you can take to improve your mental health today:
COMBAT ISOLATIOn
Having asthma can make it feel like you’re missing out on lots of things, but that doesn’t need to be the case.1 Find supportive communities who want to do the same things as you. For example, you could take up a new hobby like group singing, which has the added bonus of improving your breath control.4
TAKE TIME TO TALK
Simply speaking about your problems out loud has been proven to help process them, and it’s even better to share with a loved one, friend or therapist. Find someone you feel comfortable talking to. As the old saying goes, a problem shared is a problem halved.5
BE YOUR OWN CHEERLEADER
We all have an inner monologue, and it has more power than you might think. It’s important to be positive to yourself, rather than beat yourself down. If you catch yourself being self-critical, try to imagine what you would say to a friend going through the same thing – does it differ to your inner voice?6
lean on others
No one person is an island – we need a community to lift us up when we need it most. There are lots of reliable organisations out there to help people with asthma such as Asthma and Lung UK, the European Lung Foundation or the American Lung Association.
IS YOUR ASTHMA GETTING IN THE WAY OF LIFE?
If you’re concerned that your asthma symptoms might be holding you back, speak to your doctor for more information.
The asthma control test (ACT) is a quick way to see how the symptoms of asthma are affecting your everyday life. Click on the link below to get the results in seconds – and be sure to share them with your doctor.
