Living

Like everything else in life, things weren't supposed to turn out this way. In 1995 I was told to get my affairs in order. The next thing I knew, the...

Receiving a positive HIV diagnosis was among the reasons I sought treatment for my mental health. I have previously shared my diagnosis story, and it was rough. Not only did...

I have heard so many friends and clients say time and time again that they are not worried about STIs, because they already have "the big one." I would always...

If I knew then what I know now I would have learned about using protection from contracting any STIs. It seems that people will have unprotected sex and not be...

Stress is not good for our health, and I have been living in a state of stress. My re-evaluation for my disability is coming up. I am beyond nervous but...

Despite being HIV positive for 30 years, only recently have I processed what happened to myself and my friends. I thought that acknowledging those I had known was enough. But...

I know that the thought for some of us women who are living with HIV is finding love and being in a relationship but for some, it is the last...

I have been living with HIV for a little over 9 years now and even though I see my infectious disease doctor every 3 to 6 months, it is still...

I took my first and only HIV test 3 decades ago. It saved my life, but not in the way you might be thinking. I already knew the results, even...

Content Note: This article describes abuse. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our mental health resources page. Intimate partner violence, referred to as IPV, has been...

Nothing makes me wince more than brain studies related to HIV. It seems like the news about HIV's impact on our skull meat is always bad. As a longterm survivor...

Over the years since my diagnosis, I have learned to closely guard my mental health. Learning to discuss my mental health with healthcare providers has been very important. I have...

I have been living with HIV for over 9 years and even though I have said this many times, I want to stress again the importance of starting medication if...

For many, studying abroad is nothing short of a dream come true. However, for those of us living with HIV, this dream can be accompanied by a cocktail of concerns...

I respect the heaviness inherent in this topic. The consequences of disclosure can vary wildly from one person to another. A lot depends on where you live and attitudes in...

Ironically, I did not consider pursuing a career until I became HIV-positive. I had been very happy working front-line service-level jobs in the food and beverage industry. But something changed...

Throughout my life, I have met many different people who are living with HIV. What I have heard from them is that they also would like to date someone who...

As treatment options for HIV have changed, so have my personal views evolved. When I was first diagnosed, I resisted taking AZT, and now 30 years later, I am discussing...

If you are newly diagnosed with HIV, one thing that I am sure you have heard about is medication adherence. Medication adherence is when you are taking the appropriate medicine...

There are times since my HIV diagnosis that I have caught myself settling in different categories of my life. Unfortunately, some of these categories have involved my medical care. I'm...