HELPING AN ANEMIC FRIEND/LOVED ONE:

It is not easy to be an anemic patient. I know that it is very frustrating for the anemic patients, and they often lament why they had to be the unlucky one to contract anemia. Therefore, I am dedicating this post to the family members and friends of people with anemia, in order to help them get a better understanding of how to help their loved ones and make their days better :)

As a friend of someone with anemia, I have personally seen my friend turn from a really cheery girl into a depressed and gloomy person. I have often tried to help her and make her smile. It gets frustrating at times, but I try my best to understand her and put myself in her shoes. There are some methods listed below to let everyone know how to help anemic patients, I have tried some of these methods and it’s been proven to be really useful :)

TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR LOVED ONES <3 :

1. Maintain a warm and caring relationship free from hostility and tension

2. Learn to cope with the hardships a depressed person can impose such as the tendency to be lured into destructive criticism

3. Learn what depression is--a clinical disorder that is not something someone turns "on" or "off" and may be triggered by an event but becomes a brain chemistry disorder separate from that event.

Bonus tip! : You can order this book called Contagious Emotions: Staying well when your loved one is depressed, by Ronald Podell. It offers insightful advice for how to cope with your loved one who has depression and so much more! Definitely worth a read!  

TIPS FOR YOURSELF <3 :

1.    As a family member or friend of a person who is experiencing depression because of anemia, it's important to look after yourself too. Make sure you spend time to unwind and do things you enjoy.

2.    It may be helpful to talk to your friends or family members about how you're feeling in your role as a carer. If you're having trouble coping and don't feel comfortable talking with the people you know, talk to a counsellor.

3.    If you're living with, or caring for, someone who is experiencing depression or anxiety, you may feel isolated sometimes and friends or other family members may not understand the position you're in. Try talking to people who are in a similar situation or seek out services that provide education and support for carers of people with mental health conditions.

It isn’t always easy to help the depressed person get treatment, but it can be done, and helping can make you both feel better. Hopefully these tips that I shared will be of great use! :) Do stay tuned for more posts about anemia! Thanks for the support so far!