HIV Support
Where can I find emotional support if I have HIV?
That can be different for every person. For example, sometimes it's not the best idea to talk to your family right away. They may be thinking about their own issues, they may not be informed about HIV or they may not be aware of the reality. Talking to close family members may not be the best for some people. There are AIDS service organizations, and there are support groups all over the country. These groups are people who know a lot more about HIV and can understand what you are going through. I would suggest that people get in contact with other people who have been aware of their HIV status for some time and have had a chance to adjust to that. I think when people can see other people living well, they'll too feel better just by observing them they can feel better. So I think it's as easy as picking up a telephone, going online, and making a committment to meet another person, interact with other people. I think that there are plenty of support groups all around the country where people can get help coping with HIV.
Should I turn to my faith if I have HIV?
I think faith is different for everyone. I also think that faith alone is not enough to stop the progression of HIV. Some people believe that their faith will keep them alive, but my personal experience and the research shows that not to be true. Faith can be a great support for people in difficult times, but I also think that people need to rely on medicine and science to carry them through HIV on a medical level. On an emotional level, faith in whatever way that you express it, can be immensely supportive and can help you buffer from early diagnoses through adjustment.
What is an 'AIDS Service Organization'?
An Aids Service Organization, also called ASO for short, are a series of health-care like small companies that are based in cities where people with HIV can go to access support groups. Sometimes they can access medical services, such as tests. Sometimes they can access medicine. People may need counseling. Substance abuse issues. They may need a referral to a doctor. Or they just may need information. There are quite a few really excellent AIDS Service Organizations across the country and it's as simple as getting online or calling directory assistance and asking for the AIDS Hotline in your state.
What is the HIV or AIDS 'hotline'?
There's a series of HIV or AIDS hotlines. Every state in the United States has their own AIDS hotline, and these telephone services will direct people who call in anonymously to local ASO's or AIDS Service Organizations. So an HIV/AIDS hotline is more of a referral service that people can access. If I'm in Atlanta and I need services in Atlanta, then I can call the Georgia AIDS hotline and get directed to services that are appropriate for me.
What is an 'HIV support group'?
An HIV support group can be any number of things. There are several different definitions, I think the most helpful sort of HIV support group is one that's lead and conducted by a trained professional. This sort of HIV support group is very different from a group of HIV positive people hanging out, or talking. With a trained professional, they're there to facilitate discussion and keep things upbeat, positive, and help the HIV support group interact. Usually an HIV support group is just a group of people who come together, and talk about issues going on in their life. They can be substance abuse issues, they can be dating and sexual issues, they can be medical or mental health issues. But an HIV support group is a really great place where people can go and find out what other people know, and access into a larger and better network of people.
What type of support group will help me deal with HIV?
HIV support groups can take on many different incarnations and I think people resonate better when they're in an HIV support group with people who have some similarities with them. The great thing about aid service organizations and HIV support groups is that they can be tailored to your individuality; if you're a women, if you're a man, if you're black, if you're white, if you're Latino. All those things, those cultural and ethnic variables are important to people in an HIV support group and I think people feel more comfortable when they can recognize and relate to other people who are similar to them.
How can a support group help me deal with HIV?
I think there's something very important about normalizing your experience. When you can sit in a room and talk with other people about how you feel on a daily basis and the fears that you might have. For example, if you're fearing disclosing your status to a partner, you may talk to the support group about that, and other people can tell you what is was like for them. They can provide you with the experience of difficult things in life without you having to go through yourself. These groups give you the oppurtunity to learn from other people and, in the same way, help other people. You can tell them about your experience and help them. So it's a give and take, but there are really great groups out there and people just need to access them.
What types of HIV or AIDS groups should I avoid?
There are some groups of people out there who have they're own agenda. I can think of a couple and this is just my personal opinion. There is a group called heal, and they don't believe that HIV is the true cause of AIDS. That flies in the face of all scientific research and evidence. Yet these people have a social network that justifies advoiding medicine in place of unproven therapies. I think that they prey on people who are perhaps isolated, or don't have a lot of information. They kind of band together and try to justify a particular agenda. There are other groups as well, called barebacking groups. Barebacking groups have sex together among HIV positive people. I personaly would not get involved with that because I think that re-exposure to virus is not good for my health. The research is inconslusive on that but my expeirence as a doctor tells me that the possible exposure to a number of other diseases or conditions is not good for your health. It is just a gut feeling, and it makes intuitive sense.