Confused

[scribble]

Ok long story short i have been positive since April 2011. I started med immediately and I am on Isentress and Truvada. I thought I was handling all of this pretty well but these past 2 weeks have been so terrible. Emotionally I am a wreck. I feel hopeless about my future. I am not suicidal at all, I just had so many plans for my future and now I have to focus on staying at this job for insurance and I can't go back to school because school is in the day time. My life is at a stand still because I need this insurance for my meds which I will need forever. I thought I was coping pretty well and now its hard to stop crying, stop thinking so much and I don't know if I need counseling, meds or could this be a side effect of my meds becuase I was coping so well for these past few months and now the shame and guilt are getting the best of me and when I try to talk to some people they tend to say I did this to myself while its partially true I got this from my daughters father who knew he was infected. we were together 3 years and I had 2 negative test while I was with him I didn't think it would be me becuase I was in a monogamous relationship and well here I am. Does counselling really help or do I need meds or do I need a new ARV med regimen? Any advice is welcomed, I am a wreck and I am trying hard to keep it together for my 4 year old daughter.

[vivyt]

I am so sorry that you are going through such hard times. I was diagnosed in 2007 and there have definitely been ups and downs. I am a big believer in therapy. I was seeing a therapist before I was diagnosed and still am. I have also been to Positive Women groups and am currently looking to join another one. It is a lot to take in and deal with. My therapy has helped me. Try to find someone neutral. There are also A LOT of great women here who can offer advice. Hang in there! 

[TabooPrincess]

Counselling didn't help for me but I'm not sure I gave it long enough anyway.  I've been pos nearly 4 years now and I can definitely say it's a lot better now then in the first 2 years but in that time I've also grown up a lot after having my son and have a different perspective on life.  All I can say is that time WILL help you, I know that's not a comfort for right now but there's sunshine beyond this storm.  As for the meds, I have no idea - perhaps be of help if you list what you take?

[Queen Tokelove]

Sorry to hear you are going through it. We have all been there at one point with this virus. I am on the same meds you are, one of the things he had told me is that neither Isentress or Truvada has bad side effects...What are the side effects that you are feeling? I will be praying that you feel better. And try to keep your head up.

[scribble]

Thank you all ladies for any input. I went to see a therapist on Thursday of last week and it helped some. I really thought I was strong enough to handle all of this. I had a hard time with the meds when I first started them. I developed IRS syndrome and I got CMV pneumonia. I had a very rough start, now that I am physically better I am an emotional wreck! I feel so hopeless about all my future plans such as going back to college. I have to work full time for insurance benefits and school is during the day while I am at work. I am sure all of this is possible and that it will all work out eventually but its all been hard on me lately. I feel like such a failure and I feel that I should be stronger than this because I am always the strong person that people come to. I also feel the stigmatism and stereotypes of this disease is AWFUL so I experience shame and guilt at times. The therapist and my ID doctor want me to start Celexa, I think I will pick it up tomorrow and see what happens. I currently take Isentress and Truvada and that combo has caused me to gain weight and I am sure that is part of my emotional stress but I have to take the meds to survive so I just do it and try not to dwell on it. Has celexa helped anyone here? Thank you all for your support and you are all in my prayers!