POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Mental Health & HIV => Topic started by: indigolime on July 03, 2009, 03:29:46 am
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After my diagnosis w/ hiv a month ago I asked for a prescription for wellbutrin, my old standby for depression and anxiety. I'm now functional at work, and have the energy to take care of myself, get to the gym, make healthier meals etc. However I'm a little lost and isolated. My closest friends know, and are there for me if I need them but I hesitate since they have their own issues to deal with. I saw a counselor twice to deal with the depression, and I am here all the time reading your posts and researching treatment issues.
The guy I had been seeing tested positive right after I did, both of us were negative six months ago. We are being adults and not blaming anyone. He is dealing with it a bit better than I am and I now find myself relying on him for some emotional support, while he moves on with his life and is dating again. To my other friends and acquaintences I basically fell off the earth.
I need connection with and to be around people who have this virus right now. Can someone advise me about support groups, or where to meet people in my area (SoCA LB/OC) who are newly diagnosed and dealing with this? I was politely told by ASF I didn't qualify for their support group since I had resources (insurance, a mid level income).
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Yea I was told that here in ny state too. I would look in monasterys both franciscan and buddhist to see if they have groups. I had success with that here. I wish you luck. It helped me a great deal to talk face to face with hiv+ especially long term survivors. Don't give up because there is surely a group near u. Also try meetup.com. There wasn't one near me but there might be one close to you.
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Any chance you could attend AMG 2009 in Boston? You would have a chance to meet a variety of positive people from this forum. See the AM Gatherings section on the forum Contents list.
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Before I get caught, I am sorry if this is ladies forum. Can't tell on my blackberry. I will try to be more careful
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no positivmat this is not the ladies forum--i was responding to indigolime's post.
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Meetupom has a wait list group for LA hiv'ers. In some gay rags and I am seeing psychologists advertising support groups who will (likely for a fee) open the door. Boston would be an ordeal but I found an LA based group www.posimages.com who hold events on this subject with presentations by medical professionals in this field. I can also look into Yahoo groups in my area or starting one. Then again I could "come out" to my neg friends and see if they can hook me up w/ experienced poz guys they may know.
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Good for you. Keep reaching out. I didn't want to tell too many people at first but its up to you. In the beginning months its good to have a strong support system in place. I am paying for a therapist who is helping me deal with the changes. We are mostly working on old issues which were brought up from this speed bump in my life. The more the days pass by you will find yourself putting this virus in perspective and not letting it be an ending but a beginning albeit one you may not have wanted to start. This forum has lots of good advice on it and people who have been there. Use it for any questions. Stay occupied. Get rest and take better care of yourself while you get used to these changes. You will be alright. Matt
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indigolime --
If you had a good relationship with your counselor you might ask them if they have any suggestions.
I'm not sure the extent of the services they have but you might want to check out:
Aids Families & Friends Support Group
Garden Grove, CA. 92840
(714) 534-2437
The Center
2017 E 4th St
Long Beach,CA 90814
(562) 434-4455
http://www.centerlb.org/index.html (http://www.centerlb.org/index.html)
Good luck,
AA
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Just two one-on-one therapy sessions with the symptoms/isolation you just described? Sorry, but that doesn't sound like enough. You might want to go weekly, and ALSO supplement this with a "real world" support group.
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If you are looking for social interations with other poz gay men check out Strength in Numbers ("not-for-profit global social network for HIV+ gay men")
LA chapter has a yahoo group http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SINLosAngeles/
And the general page has a clickable map http://www.strengthinnumbers.org/
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I'm a little late in replying to this post, but I just wanted to point out the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center as a resource. (www.lagaycenter.org)
They have mental health services (individual therapy and groups) there at their clinic and they also maintain a directory of private practice therapists.
Hope that helps!
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Hey Indigo:
Checkout the C.A.R.E. program at St. Mary's in Long Beach. the URL is http://www.careprogram.org It is one of the best ASF's in So Cal :-)