Everything your feeling, everything your going through is something we have done or are still doing. Its been 11 months for me and I know its not on my forehead but I do feel different on how the world perceives me.. But its me doing that to myself. Do not let hiv define you or allow it to change you.. Yes, certainly some sports might not be the right thing to do just yet. But give this some time, you have a very long while before having to make any more steps. Take a breath and step back and relax. You have great care. You have great numbers. Go back to doing what you do... I would not ponder to much on how or who or what or why this happened. It cant fix the situation. Just accept it and move on. Acceptance is the key to going forward. Never turn around and look the other way.. Face this and fight it.. Don't let this protein problem trip you up in your life. You might as well start programming the brain for GOOD thinking and not destructive thinking. Keep catching yourself when you think you are "dirty" etc. Thats baaaad...
Love
Eldon:
Hello Alex,
It is unfortunate that you have tested HIV positive. However, the good news is that you DO know now rather than NOT knowing it and having further damage done to your health. As Eric has mentioned, don't even concern yourself with the thought of the WHO and HOW you got the virus. It will run your anxiety level through the roof. It is GOOD that you DO have the military to back you with your healthcare. Focus on your health.
I wish to extend to you a warm welcome to the forums, here you will find encouragement, support, some cries, some laughter, and many of your questions answered relating to HIV/AIDS. Yes, it is a stressful situation. However, there are people here on this forum that will listen as well as answer you.
Feel free to come and vent with whatever is on your mind from time-to-time. it is therapeutic.
Again, Welcome and make the BEST of each day!
Beatz4me:
Welcome Alex, I was diagnosed in April..wow over 6 months now.
You deal with this one second at a time, then one moment at a time up until you are shocked to realize that it hasn't been on your mind every single second of the day. I would never have believed anyone telling me that I will adapt..but it's true, it does happen...And when it does, you develop a sense of pride at just how strong you are.
It's a shock...A really hard thing to deal with, but the beauty of the human psyche is that you won't need to deal with it until you are ready to do so...Just give yourself some time and patience...You'll shine again soon..promise !
;)
Michael
allopathicholistic:
--- Quote from: rugger on October 11, 2006, 05:38:29 pm ---My biggest worry was what will become of my military career. --- End quote ---
Sorry to hear about your poz status. But I *am* glad to hear that the military will send you to counselling, where you can ask about your career outlook. I'm guessing you're not the first hiv+ case they've had to deal with. Keep a spiral notebook of questions and when you see the counselor(s), make sure they address every question even if the answer is "I don't know right now so I'll have to look into that". write down their answers. This is too important and too-much-too-soon to commit to memory. Write everything down. Seriously ...We're here for you
Love, A
bocker3:
Hi Alex,
Sorry to hear about your recent positive result. I received mine a little over a year ago, so I can still vividly remember how my mind went numb, then wild with fear, back to numb and so on and so on. There were three key things that helped me get through it:
1. When it starts to get too much -- take a deep breath, exhale, then another, then another. Three deep breaths always helped me come back to the present. Try it -- it really does work.
2. Learning all I could about my "new reality". This is a great site to start with -- I also learned lots from the www.thebody.org
3. Talking -- ALOT. I talked with my partner of 16 yrs (he's negative), a counselor and a quickly found (and I think heaven sent) hiv positive friend. Each of these people helped me in very important, but different ways.
You have a found a great place here to start the talking and learning. I'm not sure where you are stationed, but it sounds like you are close to D.C., there should be plenty of resources up there to help hook you up with someone to talk with. If you need it, I'm just a little ways down the road from DC in Richmond and I would be happy to talk. I'm former military -- served with the Army in Desert Storm, so I understand your concerns about everything. If you want -- just PM me and can try to work out someway to talk -- by phone, in person -- whatever will work.
You're at the beginning of a new journey and I know it's scary now -- but I look back on my first year and am amazed how it has all moved along without all the dismal outcomes I had anticipated.