Caring for a mother with COPD: managing breathlessness and anxiety

[Anthony.W]

My mother was recently diagnosed with moderate COPD after years of attributing her shortness of breath to just being out of shape, and now we're trying to navigate her new reality with inhalers and pulmonary rehab. The most difficult part is helping her cope with the anxiety that comes with each episode of breathlessness, which seems to make the physical symptoms even worse, creating a vicious cycle. For other caregivers or patients managing COPD day-to-day, what strategies have you found most effective for managing both the physical limitations and the emotional toll? How do you balance staying active to maintain lung function with the very real fear of triggering an exacerbation, and are there specific breathing techniques or pacing strategies that have improved your quality of life?