Asthma Motivation

Do you ever have trouble motivating yourself? Ever think, "I feel fine. Why should I bother taking my inhalers tonight?" And what about shots? Some of us need biologics or allergy shots, which require sitting in the doctor's office for half an hour. We would much rather be out in the sun than stuck inside. So, what motivates you to do these things when you don't really want to?

Let’s discuss asthma motivation.

What is motivation?

Ever wonder what motivation really is? Imagine you’re a superhero with a secret power source. Motivation is like that hidden energy boost that kicks in just when you need it the most. It’s the spark that gets you out of bed in the morning, even when your blankets feel like a warm cocoon. It’s the driving force behind your decision to take your asthma medicine, even when you feel perfectly fine.

Motivation is that little voice in your head cheering you on, reminding you of how great it feels to breathe easy and stay healthy. It’s what keeps you going during those tough asthma days and what pushes you to stay on top of your treatment. Whether it’s the thought of playing your favorite sport, hanging out with friends, or simply enjoying a peaceful, breath-filled moment, motivation is your personal cheerleader, always ready to rally you forward.

Finding motivation with asthma

Weighing the pros and cons of inhalers 

When you’re having trouble breathing, that alone is your motivation. But what I’m referring to in this article is when you’re feeling good. As a child, most asthma inhalers required 2 to 8 puffs every 4 hours. That’s a lot of puffs in a day. You have school, and as you get older, work and other things you want to do. You want to simply enjoy life. It wasn't easy remembering, let alone bothering, to think about inhalers when you're just trying to have fun.

Thankfully, today most inhalers only require 1 to 2 puffs once or twice a day. That’s a reason right there that motivates me. For crying out loud, how hard is it to get up in the morning and take a puff of my inhaler? Not hard at all. Taking my inhalers consistently makes my breathing better and helps keep my asthma in check, allowing me to live a normal life.

But what if your inhaler causes side effects? For me, it’s tremors and the inevitable thrush. Speaking of thrush, what motivates me to rinse my mouth out after using my steroid inhaler?

Today, I’m way more motivated to use my inhaler every day compared to my past. The main reason is the convenience of modern inhalers and knowing how well they work. However, I still struggle to motivate myself to rinse, even though I know it would minimize side effects. So, how can I motivate myself to rinse?

Removing the dread of doctor’s appointments

I have had far more doctor’s appointments in my life than the average person. You’d think I would be comfortable around them by now – I’m 54, for goodness sake. But the truth is, I’m still not comfortable talking to anyone about my health, let alone my asthma. I do have a touch of social anxiety, and I’m sure that doesn’t help.

Sometimes I miss appointments. When that happens, it’s easier not to reschedule than to pick up the phone. Although, with MyChart, you can schedule appointments without talking to anyone, which helps a lot. But that method isn’t always an option. I basically have 2 doctors: a primary care physician and an ENT, so I see a doctor every 3 months. Sometimes, it’s tempting to just skip one.

However, what motivates me is that I almost always have questions that creep into the gray matter of my mind. It’s nice to see doctors regularly so I can get my questions answered. For example, “Hey, what do you think of that new medicine?” Another thing that motivates me is that these doctors, each playing their own unique role, are the ones who write the prescriptions. It makes me wonder if I’d be as motivated to go to my doctor's appointments if most asthma medicines were over-the-counter.

Taking action with allergy shots

Yes, I take allergy shots. I don’t even know if they help. I’ve been getting my shots once or twice a week, and now I’m down to once every 2 weeks. Thankfully, I no longer have to wait after my shots – I can just get up and leave. But sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth continuing. Yes, I need some motivation to keep going. I need motivation to get off my butt and get to my ENT. Interestingly, what helps motivate me is that his office is just a few blocks from my house.

Share your experience!