Coping with Grief During the Holiday Season...I can remember when the holidays became emotionally difficult. My father died a sudden death in April 1986. His death devastated my MaDear, my sisters, and myself. Since that time...reactions10comments
Have you experienced anxiety?...I want to share some advice from an experience I went through a couple of years ago. After a somewhat risky sexual encounter, I convinced myself I was HIV positive...reactions2repliesMental HealthTesting
36 Wonderful Years...In May 1984 little was known about HIV/AIDS. I cashed in points from a hotel chain and headed to Acapulco, México for a week. On Tuesday of that week at...reactions7comments
Struggling While Parenting...Editor's note: Trigger warning - This story includes the use of derogatory language about members of the LGBTQIA community. Hello Family, this is your girl Octavia, signing on and checking...reactions3comments
Addressing Bug Chasers...There is a growing problem within the community, particularly within that of MSM (men who have sex with men). It isn't necessarily HIV but, if things continue, it could be the...reactions2comments
The Best Turkey Burger...I have serious fitness goals, but that doesn’t mean I want to eat bland food. These healthier burgers will not only give you a protein-packed entree, but they are incredibly...reactions3comments
It’s Ok Not to Be Ok...A few weeks back, at the age of 33, I went to therapy for the first time in my life. I, like so many, have found this unusual time we...reactions2comments
COVID-19 and Flu: Similarities, Differences, and How to Protect Yourself...As the coronavirus and flu season collide, this upcoming fall and winter will be like none the world has ever seen. Here in the United States, it is important to...reactions1comment
Marz Albarran...Marz was previously an advocate on H-I-V.net. I am Marz, they/them pronouns please. I’ve been alive 31 years and was born HIV+ in 1988. I was raised in inner-city Chicago...
My Bittersweet HIV Journey...I'm grateful to be able to share my story. It's been a long and bittersweet journey since my HIV diagnosis in 1990. I can't say I was shocked when I...reactions7comments
Steven Campa...Steven Campa is a proud and confident HIV positive gay man. He has been living with HIV since April 2014. Shortly after his diagnosis, he started volunteering at a local...
Beyond Exhaustion: How Life Changes with Fatigue...Fatigue: It’s not “just being tired”, and it’s an experience that individuals living with a chronic health condition know all too well. Fatigue can impact every aspect of daily life...reactions3comments
A Journey Walked...First, being diagnosed feels like you have been given a life sentence. You feel isolated and alone. You are left within the whirlwind of your thoughts and emotions. It is...reactions6comments
Octavia Lewis...Octavia was previously an advocate on H-I-V.net. Octavia Y. Lewis, MPA is an Activist, Advocate, Humanitarian, Mother, and Scholar. Octavia is the Transgender Health Coordinator for the TransWellness Centers at...
Window Period: Is My HIV Test Conclusive?...Hello! 3 months and 10 months 4th generation HIV test was negative. Is that conclusive? Submit your own question!...reactions5repliesTestingTransmission
Not The End of My Journey But Merely The Beginning...Exactly one week before my twenty-first birthday I got dealt a card that wasn’t just going to turn me into another statistic. I did not sulk and I did not...reactions3comments
Up the Hill......I was 20 years old, in my 3rd year in the university when a school club I belonged to arranged for free HIV testing. I was just curious because I...reactions12comments
My Soul Looks Back and Wonders...My soul looks back and wonders. "How I Got Over" is a gospel song made even more popular by Aretha Franklin and used during the Civil Right Movement. This year...reactions12comments
Who Is Octavia......Who is Octavia Y. Lewis, MPA, and what makes her who she is? Octavia often struggles with this question because at times she tries to be so many things that...reactions5comments
Minutes with Jah: VOTE PSA...In this video, I will be talking about voting. In this next election, it is very important to vote and make your voice heard. We are living in challenging times...reactions2comments
