Recently diagnosed, looking to talk to others who have also been recently diagnosed with HIV. and what they did to cope with it .

[Mayboy0507]

I was recently diagnosed, it was a bit hard to deal with in the beginning . but i am finally coming down to terms with it, and accepting it. It has made me stronger as a person and has pushed me to live a healthier life and to take better care of my body than i have before. I thought it was going to be the end of the world, and that's really how it feels like, but its really not. There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone else feeling positive? no pun.

[Hidden]

Same, I was diagnosed at the begining of this year. At first, I was super disappointed with myself. But like you I took it as motivation to work on my overall health. That has definitley helped me to feel better, however sometimes I get a little down about it. I have a positive outlook moving foward, because knowing that if I stick to my medication I can live a long normal life.

[StreetSpirit]

Hi. I have been poz going on 10 years now. I went through every stage including anger, denial and acceptance but it was a long difficult road for me during which I did things that were very self destructive. But I pulled through the darkness and have found my center. Some days I forget that I am poz, and I guess that's a good thing. It doesn't define who I am as a person. I hope this helps, the journey is different for everyone.

[Mayboy0507 in reply to StreetSpirit]

Wow 10 years , out of all that time , have you felt any different ? Do you think having HIV has done any permanent effect on your body ?

[Break in reply to Mayboy0507]

Hello. I've been poz since 2004. I have 6 T-Cells and I cried every night and didn't eat. I completely lost my appetite. I was so weak from lack of food and fear, the HIV was a blink away from being full blown Aids. It took a month to get my medication right and find a Doctor to really help me, I thought I was going to die. One day, I literally woke up and said, this can't be it. I refuse to let this run me or kill me. I decided to eat and man, I ate so much I got sick. I still didn't let that stop me. I continued to eat, pray and meditate on living. It wasn't even a year later, my T Cell count grew into undetectable status. Over the past years, I live like it's not a factor. I take my peel once a night and go on with life. I don't let HIV define me or consume my daily thoughts. I haven't blamed myself or anyone else about it. Thousands or people are living a healthy life and most people wouldn't even know that they are positive. My advice to anyone is... Get over it. Move forward if you want to live, than LIVE. HIV is not a death sentence if you don't let it. Wake up day thankful your still alive. Take you mess daily. Work out to relieve stress. Pray and just live your life. Next time I post, I'll tell you about my 7 year relationship I'm in. Hopefully, we will get married if he stops cheating. Yes, they all cheat + or -

[Neolithicrumba]

I run a newly diagnosed support group in Long Beach. It can be really helpful to talk to other people and share your resiliency. I'd look for a group near you where you can talk to others face to face

[Mayboy0507 in reply to Neolithicrumba]

I tried going to support groups in my area but I'm too shy and nervous to go .. I feel like I might see someone I know and they might tell others about my situation . So far no one close to me knows about my condition ..

[Neolithicrumba in reply to Mayboy0507]

We go over ground rules at the beginning of every meeting. What's said in the room, stays in the room. Everyone is in the same situation. They don't want their personal information shared so they won't share yours.

I was lucky when I tested positive. My roommate and another close friend were positive, so I had folks to talk to that helped normalize things in a non-judgmental way.

We engage others every day, and it's powerful when we have friends with whom we share ourselves more completely.

Good luck!

[Golddragon]

Going on 27 years poz and I never looked back. I took my message everyday faithfully and have gone from 4 t cells to over 300. That might not sound great, but the first 8 years, I never got above 57.

I met the man of my dreams in '95 and we have been together since and married 4 years this August.

I have been undetectable for the past 19 years. There is life after diagnosis, and it is only as good as you allow it to be.