Coping and support

If you or someone in your family has sickle cell anemia, you might want help coping. Consider:

• Finding someone to talk with. Ask your doctor if there are support groups for families in your area. Talking with others who are facing the same challenges you're facing can be helpful.
• Exploring ways to cope with the pain. Work with your doctor to find ways to control your pain. Pain medications can't always take all the pain away. Different techniques work for different people, but it might be worth trying heating pads, hot baths, massages or physical therapy.
• Learning about sickle cell anemia to make informed decisions about care. If you have a child with sickle cell anemia, learn as much as you can about the disease. Ask questions during your child's appointments. Ask your health care team to recommend good sources of information.