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The first few moments after you read the results of a positive HIV test are without a doubt the hardest. The fear, pain, and guilt all hit you at once. But as you compose yourself and start reading about your options, you realize that in today’s world, with such great medical advancements, you can still get to live a long and rich life, all it takes is a bit of re-adjusting. And, not even your love life needs to suffer because of the diagnosis, there are a lot of HIV dating online options that you are bound to find a soulmate within this community. To help you get started on this journey here are some pieces of advice that you need to hear.
Accept the new you
Accepting yourself with HIV is the hardest part. Knowing that there is no going back, that you are now living with that disease for the rest of your life isn’t going to be easy, but it is essential for going forward and living a full life. Start by telling those closest to you about your diagnosis, that will help you affirm and accept the situation, especially when you realize they accept you and still love you regardless of the HIV. Make sure you take the right precautions and make the needed adjustments so that you don’t get into a situation where you might infect another. This is why acceptance is also important, it allows you to talk openly about your condition, and help others understand it better. That can take away a lot of stigmas still related to HIV.
Find a support group
This is very important. Your friends and family will be supportive, and they will help you through the whole experience, but they do not know what it is actually like living day in, day out with the disease. This is why an HIV support group can be so beneficial, you will get to be in a calm and safe environment and talk to people who are going through, or have gone through the same process. You can ask questions, explain what you are feeling, and know that they not only support you but truly understand you, and it can go a long way to getting your life back on track after a positive HIV test.
Don’t change your habits
Make some adjustments for your safety and the safety of others but don’t change your routines. You will need to eat healthier and take care of your body a bit more, but don’t we all. The major thing is not letting HIV change who you are. For instance, if you love sports don’t stop doing them, make sure you still take the time for all the hobbies that you find fun and relaxing. A career goal? You can still achieve it. Having HIV doesn’t mean you get to stop being who you are as a person, it just means that your lifestyle needs to change and you’ll have some additional visits to the doctor. That is all.
You can put your life back on track relatively quickly after the diagnosis. But it will not be easy, it takes a lot of strength and courage to face the fact you are HIV positive, to inform people around you and continue to pursue your hopes and dreams. The good news is that with the available modern medicine, you get to live a long and quality life. Even having a family, and healthy kids is now a possibility. So don’t let this virus change who you are inside, that is something you can never get back.
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This content is sponsored by Stefan Simonovic.
Photo: Shutterstock