NAPWA

A few weeks after you receive your diagnosis, it’s advisable to go back and see your doctor. You may have a list of questions or you might want to have another test to make sure your initial test results were right.

If your doctor recommends treatments, remember that you do not need to make any decisions straight away. Ask questions and try to learn as much as you can before making any major decisions. AIDS Councils and PLWHAPerson (or People) Living with HIV/AIDS. organisations in each state and territory can provide a wide range of useful information.

A few weeks after the initial news, some people notice they start to feel bad about themselves. If you start feeling like this, try to do nice things for yourself. If you haven’t told anyone yet, have another think about the people in your life that you can trust and who will support you. If you can’t think of anyone you can tell or if it still seems too soon, consider talking to a peer support worker at your local AIDS Council, PLWHA Organisation or a counsellor. They may also be able to help you work out who to tell and how to tell them or to support you until you feel ready to tell others.

It can help you to stay focused if you set some short-term goals. These goals might change over time. Maybe you want to join the gym or take up yoga classes? You might also want to consider your long-term goals and ask yourself how you feel about these things now.

You may be starting to think about sex again. People react differently but you do have the right to a healthy and active sex life.

Each state and territory has different laws on telling people you have HIV before you have sex. It is important to always have safe sex. People have been charged and jailed for recklessly endangering life where not disclosing their HIV status and not practicing protected sex. More information on your rights.

If you’re in a relationship and haven’t told you partner, husband or wife yet, you might like to think carefully about how and when to broach the subject. A peer support worker, doctor or HIV counsellor can help to work through this and can be on hand to assist with any questions that might arise.

You could suggest that your partner seeks support via a peer support group if they are having trouble coping with the news or would like to meet other people who have been through this.

If your partner, friends or family are questioning any change in your behaviour recently, try not to panic. It can help if you prepare a believable story that will satisfy them until you’re ready to share the news.

Checklist

• Ask questions and try to learn as much as you can before making any major decisions
• Set some short term goals
• Try to do nice things for yourself

Ken: “Give yourself time. Be gentle on yourself. And don’t hesitate to call out for company if you need it.”

Next steps