This document discusses the emotional and psychological issues related to finding out you have HIV or newly dealing with an HIV diagnosis. It addresses possible initial reactions such as shock, numbness, and grief. It also discusses disclosure issues around who to tell, when to tell them, and expectations. The document outlines the importance of social support and tailoring it to individual needs and perspectives. It provides an overview of stress management, noting that stress occurs when needs are out of balance with resources. The document concludes with strategies for staying healthy such as social support, self-care, exercise, nutrition, monitoring stress, actively participating in medical care, and pursuing life goals and interests.

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?