Stress is natural and affects your emotions. Stress can help you to deal with some situations; however, excessive stress can cause physical harm and can damage your immune system and make you ill. Take stock and find ways of managing the stress in your life. Find ways to relax and recharge your batteries. Listen to your body; if you are tired, rest and you'll be better for it. Choose things that work for you.
HIV can bring anxieties. One way of tackling this is by gathering information, by learning about your condition, gaining confidence in it, in yourself and making informed choices for your future. Alternatively, you might choose to ignore the diagnosis (but remember it won't go away) and just carry on with your life. It's your life, you choose. You don't have to do anything. If you don't find that taking control works for you, fine. That's just as valid as any other approach. Do what works for you.
If you didn't see a doctor when you took your HIV test, consider seeing one soon. We recommend you choose to be looked after by a hospital specialist in an HIV clinic. You might find it best to always see the same doctor - your relationship with your doctor is just like any other important relationship in life, it takes time and effort for it to grow.
Hospitals - Outpatient Services:
The majority of treatment for HIV is provided by hospitals in Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM), “special” or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinics. These clinics operate under strict confidentiality laws, more than may be said of a GP surgery, and in most big cities clinics have tailored their service delivery to better serve the needs of people living with HIV.
Clinics in areas of the country where HIV is most prevalent will obviously have most experience of dealing with the condition. Research indicates that the patients of doctors dealing with larger numbers of people with HIV fare better than those of doctors with less experience in the field. They are also likely to be clinics where research is conducted. Patients on research studies are often the first to benefit from access to new drugs and up to date treatments.
General Practitioners:
Everyone has the right to be registered with a general practitioner (GP). Make sure you have confidence in your GP and their practice. If you aren't already registered with a doctor, ask friends who they would recommend. Get a list of GP's from a library, Family Health Services Agency / Health Authority, Community Health Council, or ask your HIV clinic for advice.
Telling your GP about your diagnosis might have advantages. GP's are normally nearer to your home than hospitals and are responsible for providing 24 hour care and can visit you at home if needed. It is important that you are aware that if an employer or insurer asks your GP for a medical report, while you should be asked if the GP can release information, the GP cannot ethically omit the fact that you are HIV positive if he or she knows it. Note also that some GP's don't want patients with HIV on their books and may remove you from their list.
A GP can only treat you safely by knowing your whole medical problem: sharing knowledge of your HIV diagnosis might mean that you end up looking for another GP to take you on. Interactions between HIV and other medications are an important consideration: your GP may need to consult with a hospital specialist pharmacist before prescribing you a medicine that might do you more harm than good.
Whilst a GP surgery might be convenient for routine check ups, there are very few GP's with the specialist skills in HIV to manage your condition properly. Most HIV treatments can only be prescribed by doctors who are skilled in their use.
In some areas, GP's share the medical care of patients with HIV. If this is the case, your HIV clinic will discuss the matter with you, but it is up to you whether your GP is told anything or involved in your care. It's a fact of life - there's a lot of stigma attached to an HIV diagnosis. Many people are afraid of becoming infected through normal “social” contact - they don't know enough to realize that what they are thinking is rubbish. Your background or culture might also play a part in making it more difficult to tell other people that you are HIV positive.
Who you tell and how, can take a bit of thinking through. Telling close friends and family can provide enormous relief and support, but it can also cause problems. Do people really need to know? Do they need to know immediately? Be careful who you tell, don't rush off and tell everyone straight away - you might regret telling them later. Do they really have to know? If so, do they have to know now, or can you leave it till later? But sharing the news of your positive status with the right people can strengthen personal relationships and help you feel less isolated.
Some people find that being totally open about their status, (never mind sexuality or drug use!) gives them great strength and lifts the burden of secrecy. Other people tell no one but could be missing opportunities for support and care that disclosure might bring.
If you feel like talking to someone many people affected by HIV and AIDS are helped and supported by counseling sessions, AIDS organizations and telephone help lines. Who you tell and how you tell them will take a bit of thinking through.
Who needs to know?
Probably the first thing that someone you tell will think about is how you got infected. If they're kind enough not to actually ask, be careful that they aren't making assumptions about you. For example, a positive heterosexual man will automatically assumed by many to be gay.
Talk to people you can trust but try to make sure they will respect your need and right to confidentiality on this issue. Try to make sure whoever you discuss it with is sympathetic to your viewpoint and is someone who won't judge you on your lifestyle, sexuality or being HIV positive. This might be difficult and though you think you know who your friends are, telling others about this might either confirm or damage personal relationships.
If you are gay, telling others about your status is like "coming out" all over again. If you haven't come out as gay, the extra news of HIV might be too much for whoever you tell to cope with. Drug users might have similar problems admitting to both drug use and HIV infection. Are you prepared to deal with the concerns of people you tell; their panic, their tears on top of any problems you might be having with your status at the moment?
Partner:
Just as your HIV positive result was possibly a big event to happen in your life, if you're in a relationship the news will also have an impact on your partner. Consider the highly emotional aspects of revealing your status and, if possible, avoid the "heat of the moment" to reveal all. No two relationships are the same, so it's difficult to give advice in this situation.
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