I Have Sickle Cell Anemia and Depression

I don’t even know where to start from because I’m depressed. Maybe it’s because I’m suffering from sickle cell anemia. I see myself as a waste and I feel some other people are better than me.

I feel I can’t do anything because I don’t want anybody to criticize me and it bothers me a lot. I don’t even have friends because I think so much about the future and I feel people are going to insult me and run away when they know I have Sickle Cell Anemia (it has happened before in my school, a friend of mine who found out ended up telling people that I was going to die soon so since then I have been unable to make friends).

This has really made me to be low self-esteem. I don’t even talk in public because I do not want to be noticed and I do not even participate in church activities.  It really makes people think I’m useless. I don’t like my way of life and I need a change. I don’t even know what I’m capable of doing. Please help me unless I will be forced to kill myself.

Thanks,

Kween

Dear Kween,

Thanks for filling me in on what’s going on in your life and my heart goes out to you. It breaks my heart that you think your life isn’t worth anything and that the world doesn’t need you in it. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m sure you’re a lovely girl with gifts and talents to offer the world and I bet there are many out there that would be lucky to have a friend like you.

When people are faced with adversity in life such as a disease, an accident, or death, they must make a choice. To lie down and let the issue get the best of them or to fight and use their struggle as a way to shine and do great things. I think the first thing that would be helpful for you to do is talk with other kids that have Sickle Cell Anemia and perhaps learn from their experience and to gain their support as they understand what you’re going through. Click here to visit a great site created by another girl with sickle cell anemia called Sickle Cell Warriors. She is doing great things with her life despite having the disease and she had to make that decision to not let it ruin her life, which is something you will have to do as no one can make it for you.

I think you should let people know about sickle cell anemia and help raise awareness concerning the disease instead of hiding in the shadows. This is nothing to be ashamed of and you could help others who might be dealing with other diseases. This world is full of opportunity, love, and happiness, but you have to go get it with your head held high. I believe in you Kween and know that great things are in store for your life if you are able to rise above sickle cell anemia.

All the best,

Ted