How to find emotional support when managing HIV

Being diagnosed with HIV is an emotional experience for many. Hearing that you have this viral infection can bring on a number of emotional responses, such as fear, anger, guilt, denial, anxiety, and distress. You may feel uncertain about the future of your health, your relationships, and your quality of life. All of these reactions, and many others, are normal.

With the vast improvements in treatment, HIV has become a chronic, manageable condition. Chronic means it is long-lasting. Manageable means that, while there is no cure, there are effective medications that can control the disease. They can help people who have HIV to enjoy a high quality of life and live for many years. Managing HIV is sometimes compared to managing diabetes, another chronic condition.

Successfully managing HIV requires regular medications and following a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet, being regularly active, practicing safe sex, and avoiding habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking illicit drugs.

It also involves getting the right emotional support and taking care of your mental health.

Support from your healthcare provider

The most important thing a person with HIV can do for their health is to work with their healthcare provider to start on treatment and adhere to it as directed. Your healthcare provider can also be a source of support for managing the mental and emotional challenges of living with HIV.

How you are feeling emotionally should be a part of your discussion. Changes in mood and emotion, sleep patterns, eating habits, and appetite can be symptoms of depression. So can feeling fatigued. But they can also be side effects of treatment or interactions between HIV treatment and other medications you are taking.

Whatever the cause, these issues need to be addressed by a healthcare provider. Mental health is not only important to your quality of life; it often affects how well people adhere to treatment, as well as other important factors like diet, exercise, and abstaining from unhealthy habits.

Support from therapists and counselors

Getting the support you need may mean adding another type of healthcare provider to your team. Some patients may benefit from working with a provider who focuses on mental health, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Others may want to work with a counselor or social worker that focuses specifically on HIV and how it affects a person’s life.

Support from family and friends

Support from loved ones can make a big difference to a person managing a chronic health condition like HIV, but it can present its own challenges. Just as patients react differently to a diagnosis, friends and family react differently.

So, take time to consider how you will share your diagnosis. Think about the questions your friends and family will have about the disease, and about treatment. Remember that while there have been big advances in treatment as well as HIV education and awareness, there remains a stigma around the condition. Also consider what type of support you need from your loved ones. Oftentimes, people will want to help but may not know how.

Support from others with HIV

Sometimes, the best thing is to talk to other people who have been there. Support groups offer the chance to meet people who know what it’s like to be diagnosed with HIV, begin treatment for HIV, and live with HIV.

There are many support groups available. To find one, speak with your healthcare provider, or the staff at your hospital or healthcare center, who may be able to direct you to a group. There are also support groups that meet online using social media, forums, direct messaging, and video chat.