Kelly's Blog

We are back with the 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today is #6.  These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.  ~Anaïs Nin

#4: One of the biggest predictors of how well you will do living with HIV is a fighting spirit.            

Studies have shown that you will get sick less often if you have a good strategy to cope with HIV. When you are first diagnosed, it is an absolute shock and a life changing experience. Your life will never be the same and that can be stressful and overwhelming.

HIV is a life long condition that is often associated with severe stress on both your mind and your body. How you learn to deal with that stress (or have a strategy to cope with it) is going to play a big role in your life.

After you are diagnosed, you will need to work on living in this new reality. It is important to acknowledge that things have changed. The stressors that come with HIV impact the way you view your world, how you are able to deal with day-to-day situations, and the direction of your treatment. You may feel forced to confront illness, disability and death.

It is completely normal to feel fear, anger, guilt and maybe even denial.

Why is this important to you?

It is well known that a diagnosis of HIV can be very socially isolating. If you find yourself withdrawing from friends and family, feeling disconnected with your life, and perhaps being afraid of the stigma of HIV, it is more important that ever to make the effort to find a circle of support.

Long before the demands of HIV make a huge impact on your immune system, they are changing your emotional health. Only you will know when it is time to disclose your status to your family and your friends.

An HIV support group can be especially beneficial when you are trying to figure how to cope with HIV. To find an HIV support group near you, please use the AIDS Service Organization finder at http://asofinder.com.

How does this affect your path?

Are you going to fight or are you going to be defeated? This is a choice you will have to make that will impact the quality of your life and how often you get sick with HIV. It may also impact how well you do with HIV treatment.

If you have already made the choice to fight this disease and live your life without limitations, please make the choice to learn all that you can about HIV. A fighter knows the rules of the game.

HIV means facing life changes and losses. Your strength in coping with HIV means that there can also be wins.

“The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.  ~Ivy Baker

The power is yours. What path will you choose?