Mental Health & Getting Help - A.J.
It’s important to get help! Mental health can be managed.
Personally, I’ve dealt with stress post-HIV AND AIDS diagnosis by seeking counselling therapy. I choose to stay positive and focused. I started connecting and staying connected with other people living with HIV and AIDS because we had something in common. Heing HIV-positive, it was easy to connect.
I exercise every day for 30 minutes, which is helpful in boosting my mood and improve my health. Eating a healthy diet regularly and staying hydrated helped me, not only health wise, but it made me glow. Having enough rest and sleep was essential and trying relaxation activities like yoga.
Setting realistic goals and priorities helped me with how and when to deal with my mental state. I chose what was important to me and dropped the unnecessary.
On self-care, I decided to equip myself with knowledge and information that empowers me on how to look after my health efficiently and conveniently, in collaboration with health and social care professionals as needed. This includes exercising, eating healthy, mental activities like reading a book or practicing mindfulness; spiritual activities like praying and reading the bible; social activities like catching lunch with friends and attending social gatherings and going to social places to have fun. I have embraced positivity, living positively and taking great care of my health. HIV AND AIDS is not a crime.
Health care providers should consider whether any HIV medicines may be affecting your mental health. They can also help people with HIV find a mental health care provider, such as psychiatrists (medically trained physicians who treat mental health problems with various therapies, like talk therapy, and by prescribing medicine), psychologists (trained professionals who help people cope with life challenges and mental health problems with therapies, like talk therapy) and therapists (mental health, marriage or family counsellors who help people cope with life issues and mental health problems).
Here are additional ways that people with HIV can improve their mental health:
Joining support groups. Support groups include:
Mental health support groups: An organized group of peers who meet in a safe and supportive environment to provide mental health support to members of the group.
HIV support groups: An organized group of peers with HIV who meet in a safe and supportive environment to provide support to other people with HIV. Many HIV healthcare centers offer support groups for patients. Ask your HIV health care provider, patient navigator, or case worker about support groups that may be available at your clinic.
Consider self-care. Self-care activities include:
Meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to relax.
Take care of yourself, get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and stay physically active.
When you are nervous, angry, or upset, try exercise or some other kind of physical activity.
Talk about it. It helps to talk to someone about your concerns and worries.
Let it out!
Don't allow stress to take control of you; be positive about life and live your life to the fullest.
Being HIV positive is not a crime.
