19, hiv positive, looking for support and advice

[pb246]

Hey,

Hope everything is well. I don’t know exactly how to approach seeking for help. I hope this is a start. Unsure of what kind of support I need as well. Received my diagnosis about 3 months ago. Also feel that because of school, I’ve been racing and not dealing with emotions... If I even should I guess?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya

Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about the diagnosis.
Perhaps you can share a few more details to help us help you.

Firstly I presume you are located in the USA. What are your lab results looking like VL (Viral Load) & CD4? Have you started treatment already or discussed treatment with your ID doctor?

Also feel that because of school, I’ve been racing and not dealing with emotions... If I even should I guess?

Yeah look being newly diagnosed can be a lot to digest, its common to feel a whole range of emotions & unsettled at first.

Not sure if you already have looked into this but what can help is talking to a counselor, the other thing i believe helps people newly diagnosed is peer support in particular is face to face peer support group, often the local ASO or NGO would have details on local peer led groups.

Best, Jim


https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/newly-diagnosed
https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/starting-hiv-treatment

[pb246]

Hey,

So I got diagnosed soon before school started this semester. Since then, I have started medication, Tivicay and Descovy. I am currently in Seattle wa; which is good because they had good resources. My cd4 is getting better. I am just worried and scared of the unknown being a woman with hiv. I find myself constantly running into a wall when it comes down to support for women and what else I should be looking out for or taking care of myself for since hiv research has been primarily around men.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya

Thanks for the update. How is your VL?

That is the most important number as once the virus is suppressed its no longer doing uncontrolled damage to you.

Sounds a bit like you have the fear of the unknown or insecurities that most people have during after a diagnosis. Look you are young, living in an era of vastly improved meds and, HIV with that treatment is not in itself a road block to leading a long healthy life.

End of the day and in the here and now, all you can do regarding HIV is take your meds and keep the virus suppressed. After that whatever will be will be in life, no point worrying about it too much or getting hung up on it. (At least not letting this thought or issue effect your daily life). Although like everyone regardless of HIV status if you want to improve your odds of living healthier, longer life than, exercise more, have a better diet, avoid smoking, don't drink too much and quality of sleep, above all care for your mental health during your journey of life.

it comes down to support for women

Just wondering what type of support do you mean? Is it an official women's only support channel or did you have more in mind things like peer support groups?

The only support groups or resources near me are mixed gender support groups,  so ill have to admit some ignorance on this one. That said the support groups we have in my nation were all set-up by PLHIV. 

Jim 

[MarkintheDark]

Hello pb and welcome.  @Jim is spot on about the way treatment has advanced and that, yeah, you're going thru an adjustment period.  The flood of emotions you may be feeling are perfectly normal.

I did a cursory search for women's groups in Seattle and found this:
https://www.ywcaworks.org/programs/babes-network

Perhaps this can be of some help.