Out in the Mountains

 

and

Consultation
V
Pamela Gale

802-864-0903

Therapeutic Massage
Personal Lifestyle

Burlington, Vermont

Gift Certificates/Sliding Fee Scale

         
    

     
  

 
  

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:"_:'§ Psychotherapist
E. Individual and Group Counselin
E _: (802) 388-0933
‘E 5 Middlebury, VT 05753
‘_
66 Main St. « '
(Upstairs) Lesb/an Support Group

Beginning in September"

LESBIAN AND GAY
JOINING CEREMONIES
WEDDINGS

CQD

Create our own ceremony
to cefellirate your [ove and
procfaim your spiritual union.
.7-lonor tfie significance of our
refationsliip as you symfioliycaffy
procfaim tfte Eoruf you cfierisli.

Rev. Giita Clark, ordained minister

Counsefing to resolve
ay aruffesfiian couples
aruffamify issues.

(jay and fesfiian coupfes
and parenting worfifiops ofl'ered'.

Erica Marks, S.A.C., C.H.
Partners in Recovery and Growth

182 Main Street
Burlington VT 05401

(802)-865-2403

14

HIV Positive -- What Next?

You’ve taken the test and, and whether you were expecting it
or not, it’s come back HIV-positive. What does it all mean?
What happens next? How are you going to cope with it all?

First, take the time you need to work through your feelings. It
is quite healthy to feel anger, frustration, disbelief, fear, sad-
ness, and a whole range of other emotions. These feelings
won’t resolve themselves overnight, and will probably keep
coming back in one form or another over time. While they may
seem overwhelming at first, you can develop methods to cope
with them.

There is no prescribed way to face this situation and everyone
deals with the news in their own manner. Don’t allow other
people’s expectations to shape your responses to learning you
have HIV. Be patient with yourself and don’t be surprised if
sometimes you just need to cry, yell, hit a punching bag, or
lock yourself away in a room. Do try, however, not to engage
in self-destructive behavior while you’re absorbing the results.
If you find yourself drinking or doing more drugs to numb the
feelings, lashing out at friends instead of leaning on them, or
entertaining thoughts of suicide, it is a serious sign of trouble.

Don’t expect to handle it entirely by yourself: there is no
shame in asking others for help. Talk to other people, friends,
professional counselors, family members, religious or spiritual
advisors, anonymous hotlines, anyone you know who will re-
spect your need for confidentiality and who will be supportive.
By all means, make Contact with the AIDS service organization
in your area, and think seriously about joining a support group
for people with HIV. Meeting other people who have tested
positive is frequently a great way to break down any feelings of
isolation and you can learn a great deal from people who'have
already “been there”. Even if a support group isn’t for you right
now, it still makes sense to talk with one of the AIDS groups,
just so you can know what they have to offer. At the. very least,
you can count on a sympathetic ear and a confidential and car-
ing environment. And if you establish contact with them now,
you’ll know each other already if you find yourself suddenly in
crisis over something.

It is impossible to offer an easy guide to learning to live with
HIV. It isn’t something that you suddenly come to terms with
and then forget about; it is an ongoing process of adjustment
and change. What is important to know is that someday, per-
haps sooner than you imagine, it will seem far more man-
ageable than it does at first. Learn everything you can about
HIV, AIDS, the disease process, treatments, and community re-
sources. You’ll be amazed at how much information is out
there. You won’t be able to take it all in immediately, so begin
with a more general overview (GMHC’s booklet “Medical An-
swers about AIDS” is a good place to start) and then move on
to more specific topics which interest you.

Far more than even two years ago, there are many reasons to be
hopeful. Treatments are developing rapidly, and people with
HIV and AIDS are living longer. Forget all the stuff you may
have once believed about this being an immediate death sen-
tence. While there is no question that HIV represents a serious,
life—threatening condition, you may be able to take advantage
of many of the advances which are happening everyday in the
field. Find a health care provider experienced in working with
people with HIV and AIDS. There are doctors within reach of
most parts of the state with a significant amount of expertise in
the field, including specialized clinics in Burlington and Han-
over (N .H.). If you already have a health care provider you feel