1. Finding Out that You Have HIV
(Or Newly Dealing With It):
Emotional and Psychological Issues
A Discussion
Facilitated by
Michael Siever, Ph.D.
for the PLUS Weekend Workshop
2. Possible Reactions to HIV Diagnosis
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• Relief
Shock
• Inevitability
Numb
• Feeling a part of a
Shame
community
Guilt
• Normalizing
Embarrassment
• Affirmation
Isolation
• Re-energizing
Grief
• Sobriety
Anger
• Re-prioritizing
Blame
• Resolve
Confusion
Which themes do you relate to?
Which have you heard from others?
Which do you not relate to and/or have a strong reaction to?
3. Disclosure Issues
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To whom to disclose?
Timing of disclosure?
Expectations of disclosure? Yours? Others?
The dos and don’ts of disclosure?
1) Parallels to coming out
2) Disclosure dialogue as a “gift”
4. Social Support Issues
• Social support can be described as feeling heard,
valued, understood, being a part of a group or
community, receiving physical and emotional
comfort, appreciated, validated, with patience and
without judgment. What else?
• Social support, like exercise and food, should be
tailored to your unique perspective/needs.
• What do you NOT want from social support?
• Anyone with a surprising or touching social support
story?
5. Stress Management:
A Brief Overview
• You have
a) needs and
b) resources to meet those needs.
If they are “out of balance”, you have
stress.
• You have external events and demands,
and you have internal responses to them.
6. Related Factors
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Everyone’s stress is different.
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Various perspectives and reflections on your issue
help immensely in exploring your stress.
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Exercise, diet, sleep, social support and other health
enhancing behaviors play a vital role in stress
reduction.
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Relaxation, Mindfulness practices can be also
immensely helpful.
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Be aware of what doesn’t work for you.
7. Strategies for
Staying Healthy
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Social support
Creating/Reinforcing
balance
Know when to ask for
help
Self Care, tailored to
you
Exercise/nutrition
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Monitor stress
management
Participate actively in
medical care
Move ahead with life,
goals, interests
What holds you back?
What else is important
to you?
