Were you in denial about your COPD diagnosis?

I see many people diagnosed with COPD who basically refused helpful treatments early on because they were resistant to the idea that they needed it. I'm thinking specifically of maintenance medications, Pulm Rehab, etc.

Inevitably, there comes a point that they are looking for therapies, treatments, and surgeries to help them regain or maintain lung function.

My question is: Were you one of those folks? What was the event or "AHA Moment" for you that made you want to be proactive and not reactive to circumstances any longer? Was there a hospitalization that frightened you? Was it something your doctor or someone else said?

AND...Do you think there is a way to get people to the point of action sooner? Would there have been something your healthcare team could have done to encourage you to be proactive?

I will put my observations in the comments after several of you have answered.