Healthier mind and body with sickle cell disease.

Managing sickle cell disease (SCD) day after day can be hard. SCD can affect many areas of your life. It can affect how you feel. You may get depressed or anxious.

It’s common to worry about things like:

• What to do when a pain crisis or other complication happens all of a sudden
• Finances. You may not be able to work or not be able to work as much. Medications, other treatments and hospital visits can be expensive
• Feeling disconnected from family and friends
• Feeling misunderstood by family and friends
• The possibility of death

Children also often worry about being different than their friends. They may feel alone as they:

• May have to miss school a lot
• Often can’t join in all the same physical activities
• Tend to be small and behind in reaching puberty
• Might be victims of teasing or bullying

Your situation is unique to you. But it’s common for people living with SCD to feel stressed, depressed and anxious. How you feel physically and mentally can affect each other. So, be sure to pay attention to both your body and mind. Here are some tips to help.

Pay attention to how you feel

• Some common signs that you might need help include:
  • Not wanting to do things you used to like doing
  • Not wanting to go out or see friends and family
  • Feelings of sadness that don’t go away. Temporary feelings of sadness are expected. But if those feelings last longer than about two weeks, you may have depression
  • Feeling on edge or getting frustrated easily
  • Thinking too much about what you can’t do
  • Feeling more anxious
  • Having a hard time concentrating
  • Sleeping more or less than usual
  • Wanting to eat more or less than usual
  • Thinking about death or suicide
  • Feeling guilty, worthless or empty

Get support

• Reach out to your SCD CareTeam or a mental health provider. They can answer your questions. Learn as much as you can about SCD. Your health care team can help you understand what is going on and why.
• Talk honestly with our health care team or mental health provider. They can help you work through your feelings and communicate better. They can also give you advice and suggest resources to help you cope, manage or overcome depression or anxiety. Free counseling is also available at the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation. 
• Ask help from your family or friends that you trust. This may include helping with house chores or running errands. Or you may just need them to listen to you. Know they are glad to be there for you.

Stick to your treatment plan

Your treatment plan can help prevent pain crises and other complications of SCD. Many studies show that staying on track helps prevent these problems.^1,2,3 Having fewer complications may mean a better quality of life. And when your body feels healthier, your mind feels better, too.

Your CVS Specialty® CareTeam is also here to help. We can support your sickle cell disease needs and connect you with resources to support mental health.