Kelly's Blog

I knew that my son sharing his HIV status made our family stronger. What I didn’t realize is that he could have been making his immune system stronger as well.

Recent research has shown that people who were open about having HIV had a stronger immune system than those who didn’t and less illness as well.

There are many reasons why you might want to tell people that you have HIV, not least is the loving support which your partner, family and friends might be able to provide.

Being open about having HIV can also mean that you have more hope about your future.

A 2006 study by AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region (ASMR) in New Hampshire found that higher hope scores were associated with a stronger commitment to manage their illness and lower perceived denial.

More importantly, those with higher hope scores reported greater overall health, greater satisfaction with their physical state, and a higher energy level. The study also reported the higher hope scores were correlated with higher CD4 values at the start of the study and subsequently eight months afterward.

Decisions regarding sharing your HIV status are not simple ones. There are many factors that must be taken into considerations. It’s important to think about who you are going to tell, and your reasons for telling them.

Unfortunately, it is true that some people have experienced discrimination or rejection when they’ve told others that they are HIV positive.  You will have to determine what is best for you. 

The most important thing is that you feel you have control over who you tell about your HIV status. Now you may have some control over your HIV as well.