Lipoatrophy Syndrome &
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Nausea & Diarrhea
Fatigue & Anemia
Emotional
Support
HIV & Nutrition
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Just as HIV treatment affects your physical health, it affects the way you feel, think,
and do the things you like to do. Just as you need to take care of your body during your
treatment, you need to take care of your emotions.
Each person's experience with HIV is different and unique, and the feelings, emotions,
and fears that you have are unique as well. Some seek support from loved ones or other
HIV/AIDS patients to help them cope. Others find help from counselors and others outside
the family, while some do not feel comfortable with this approach. Whatever you decide,
it is important to do what's right for you and not compare yourself to others.
Coping with fear
- Be informed.
Learn about HIV, understand what you can do for your health now, and find out
about the services available to you. This can give you a greater sense of control.
- Express feelings of fear, anger, or sadness.
Being open and dealing with their emotions helps many people feel
less anxious. People have found that when they express strong feelings like anger or sadness,
they are more able to let go of these feelings. Some sort out their feelings by talking to friends
or family, other HIV patients, or a counselor. Of course, if you prefer not to discuss your illness
with others, you should feel free not to. You can still sort out your feelings by thinking about them
or writing them down.
Thinking and talking about your feelings can be hard. Some people just want to
move on. While it is important not to let HIV "rule your life," it may be hard to
do. If you find HIV is "taking over" your life, it may be helpful to find a way to
express your feelings.
- Work toward having a positive attitude, which can help you feel better about life now.
Sometimes this means looking for what is good even in a bad time or trying to be hopeful
instead of thinking the worst. Use your energy to focus on wellness and what you can do now to stay as
healthy as possible.
You don't need to be upbeat all the time. Many people say they want to have the freedom to
give in to their feelings sometimes. As one woman said,"When it gets really [bad], I just tell
my family I'm having a bad HIV day. I ... cancel all my appointments. I go upstairs and crawl
into bed."
- Find ways to help yourself relax.
Physical activities such as yoga, walking, massage therapy and meditation can reduce the impact of stress in your life.
- Be as active as you can.
Getting out of the house and doing something worthwhile can help you focus on other things besides HIV and the worries it brings.
- Control what you can.
Some people say that putting their lives in order makes them feel less fearful. Being involved
in your health care, keeping your appointments, and making changes in your lifestyle are among
the things you can control. Even setting a daily schedule can give you more power. And, while no
one can control every thought, some say they've resolved not to dwell on the fearful ones.
Feeling Stress
When you were diagnosed, you may have put certain issues aside for a while, such as concerns
about family, work, or finances. These issues may begin to resurface just when you are tired
and may feel that there is already too much to handle.
Ask your doctor, nurse, social worker, or local AIDS Service Organization about taking
part in activities like these.
Exercise. Exercise is a known way to reduce stress and feel less tense--whether you've
had HIV or not. As one man put it: "I can feel down a little bit, and it is a fine line with
depression, but when I walk 45 or 50 minutes in the fresh air, I feel like I can take on the
world sometimes." See your doctor before making an exercise plan, and be careful not to overdo it.
Sharing Personal Stories. Telling and hearing stories about living with HIV can help people learn, solve problems,
feel more hopeful, air their concerns, and find meaning in what they've been through.
Depression and Anxiety
You may feel angry, tense, sad, or blue. These feelings may go away or lessen over time. For up to
one in four people, though, these emotions can become severe. These people may have a medical
condition called depression. For some, HIV treatment may have contributed to this problem by
changing the way the brain works.
Getting Help for Depression Talk to your doctor. If your doctor finds that
you do suffer from depression, he or she may treat it or refer you to other experts. Many patients get
help from therapists who are expert in both depression and helping people living with HIV. Your doctor
also may give you medicine to help you feel less afraid and tense.
Feeling Angry
Many people find themselves feeling angry about having HIV or about things that have happened
to them during their diagnosis or treatment. They may have had a bad experience with a
health care provider or with an unsupportive friend or relative.
Hanging on to anger can get in the way of your taking care of yourself, but sometimes
anger can energize you to take action to get the care you need. If you find yourself
feeling angry, find a way to use that energy to help yourself.
Feeling Alone
It is also normal to feel somewhat cut off from other people--even family and friends. Often,
friends and family want to help, but they don't know how. Others may be scared of the disease.
What can you do to make yourself feel better during this lonely time? Here are some
methods other people have found helpful:
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Figure out how you can replace the emotional support you used to receive from your health care team. Think about:
- Asking one of your nurses or doctors if you could call sometimes. Your call could help you stay connected and help you feel less alone. Even just knowing you can call them may help.
- Finding support services offered over the phone or Internet. The message boards on this site have been helpful for many wanting to reach out.
- Finding new sources of support for your recovery. Friends, family, other HIV patients, and clergy are a few ideas.
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Think about joining an HIV support group. In an HIV support group, people who have had HIV
meet to talk about their feelings and concerns. Besides airing their own issues, they
hear what others have gone through and how other people have dealt with the same problems
they are facing. A support group also may help members of your family cope with their concerns.
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