The model shows three common examples of downward (or vicious) cycles that can contribute to feelings of breathlessness.

Is this my fault?

No! It’s important to understand that everyone living with daily breathlessness experiences this to some extent. The model describes natural and instinctive responses to feeling breathless.

Is this all relevant to me?

People living with breathlessness mostly experience just one cycle, or sometimes two.

How does the BTF model help?

Making sense…

…shows how many things – breathing habits, thoughts and feelings, activity and fitness levels – can influence the feeling of breathlessness.

…explains how simple strategies, like tummy breathing or having a breathlessness action plan, work as they break the cycle.

…helps with finding the best strategy for you, by focusing on ways of breaking the main cycle you’re experiencing.

Motivation…

…even if the underlying condition causing your breathlessness, like COPD, can’t be improved, it’s still possible for the breathing to feel better and have less impact on your life.

…a small change that breaks a cycle can make a big difference over time, by changing a downward spiral into an upward one, a cycle of improvement.

…the strategies are simple, safe and effective: you can do this!

How does my breathing improve?

Here is another form of the BTF model showing what it looks like when the downward spirals turn round into upward cycles of improving health.

It is possible to turn things round, and small changes can make a big difference over days or weeks.