Depression
Living with sickle cell anemia can cause anxiety and stress that often-triggering depression. According to scientific research, it has been found that half of the people living with sickle cell anemia experience depression, at least in their life.
However, it can be difficult to spot depression in teenagers because they feel reluctant to talk about thier feelings with thier parents
Signs of depression in children include:
- No longer interest or participation in activities they used to enjoy
- An inability to make and keep friends
- Lack of energy
- Problems in sleeping or sleeping much more than usual
- Changes in diet, either eating much more or much less.
- A sudden worsening of behavior
- A general lack of enjoyment