Coping Tips? | myHIVteam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up Log in
Resources
About myHIVteam
Powered By
Real members of myHIVteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
Coping Tips?
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭

What is the best way to cope when you find out. I got diagnosed on the 24th of last month and each day I find myself having issues dealing with it. Any tips or suggestions?

posted August 22, 2018
View reactions
A myHIVteam Member

People cope differently. Some people still are depressed or still do not want to accept that they are poz 10 years after their diagnosis, others have it under control 10 hours after diagnosis.
Some of the things were mentioned above --- 1) have a good infectious disease doctor. be honest about your sexual activity. if they seem not to listen to your problems very well, they are not the right doctor for you. 2) knowledge. learn all you can about the disease. read up on things that might slow it down and how to stay as healthy as possible. 3) do NOT go out and tell people your status, even if you THINK you can trust them. only tell people that you KNOW you can trust. once it gets out there, there is no turning back. So many people are still to this day ignorant on HIV and still believe the information back in the 80s is true. 4) take your meds everyday. sometimes life gets busy and you might miss a dose, don't freak out. take it as soon as you remember. if it is getting close to be your next dosage do NOT take a double dose!!! 5) dating will be harder. when you find somebody you want to date, you will need to learn that rejection will happen 99% of the time. so when you go on a date, be expected to be rejected. if it happens to go onto another date then great! you just don't want to be in a position where you think things are going great then its time you feel like it is time to disclose and they are out of there faster than the Tasmanian devel. going in with no expectation will not break your heart as bad. 6) stay as positive (no pun intended) as you can. HIV loves stress and works on it. when you get stressed, take a step back and refocus. 7) when you feel a cold-flu-sickness coming over you take steps immediately to try to avoid it --- cough syrup, cough drops, vicks vapor rub, chicken noodle soup, soaking in the tub, or whatever it takes. once the sickness take full front, it will wear you down quick. 8) take a multivitamin with a multimineral every day. HIV depletes your vitamins and minerals 9) people will make you feel unclean, they are just bigoted and uneducated, let it roll off your feathers. at first it is hard, but it gets easier with time. 10) let the tears flow if you must, it will make you stronger. 11) the most important thing, you may have HIV, but HIV doesn't have to have you. By the way you were diagnosed almost exactly 10 years after me. July 28, 2008 here

posted September 2, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

When I was diagnosed , I thought the world had ended . I was 19 , and I felt I had no future . That was 39 years ago . It's okay to cry , cry as much as you want . And then get yourself up , stamp your feet . And tell aids to kiss your ass .

posted August 23, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

Don't go down the rabbit hole, stay away from the rabbit hole. Looking up everything bad associated with HIV will depress you. Pick a time to take your meds that really work for you and once your undetectable look at it as 3 seconds of your life then move on with your future and all your plans.

posted August 23, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

Good morning Ramon the best way to deal with being a newly diagnosed person is to get information because knowledge is power and you have to understand that you are not the threat but that healthier people could pose more of a threat to you it just means that you can't fight illnesses as good as everyone else but you can live healthy with it and can do just as much things as everybody else can do I would live my life as normal as possible there is life after diagnosis and I'm living my blessed life right now after 34 years I went through what you went through I was diagnosed when I was 20 years old when there wasn't a lot of information so you are blessed to now know that there are various regimens of medicines a wealth of information throughout the world especially Baltimore and you have this awesome website for support so you are more than halfway there be encouraged

posted August 23, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

For me I blamed myself. I chose to have unprotected sex. Once I accepted that, I took full responsibility. Nothing will cure you, NOTHING! I have no control over that! BUT I do have control about living . I would not let it destroy anything else about me. I am living the same life I had before. truly! In my heart I KNEW my friends and family would be seriously affected if I died! So I stayed alive for them! Now 16 months later, Work work work, extremely social with friends and family, workout, vacationing, babysitting nieces and nephews, etc.... The only time I think about it is when I take my meds in the am. It starts and ends there for 30 seconds! Then i start my day. I haven't told anyone and don't feel a need to..none of their business. I do everything the same now, lead a normal life. I was never one to get off on poor me. Fuck that! I made my bed, now I have to lie in it. I I have a will to SURVIVE! Ive been through a lot of shit those first 6 months,( doctors thought I was going to die, lungs were ready to collapse) but I was not going to let it keep me from living and enjoying life, friends and family! No fucking way! Thats just me. Im a survivor and fighter. I overcame. You have to accept it, overcome the emotional stress it becomes and move on.

posted October 16, 2018

Related content

View All
How Do You Help Others In Your Family To Deal With You Having HIV?
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
How Has The Corna Virus Effected Your Stress Levels?
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
Dating With HIV Any Tips?
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Google
Lock Icon Your privacy is our priority. By continuing, you accept our Terms of use, and our Health Data and Privacy policies.
Already a Member? Log in