Write a Comment
2 Comments
Wow, I can't believe I've finally found a site where I can get great information and see people who go through the same feelings and issues that I do. I finally feel "normal" for the first time in years. I am a 42 yr old woman who had AIDS when diagnosed. I had NO IDEA!! so...ultimately friends and co-workers found out my status since I was so sick. I lived in New Orleans and the stress of people knowing (and whether more people would find out) destroyed me. I went back to work six weeks later and have been fine taking meds ever since. My issues I have is with relationships. Why is it so hard to meet positive men with any substance? That can still treat a lady like a lady and still have respect for her? I feel like ever since being diagnosed I haven't met anyone willing to have a normal relationship. The decent men know they are so few and far between they feel like they are doing a service to every woman around the globe attempting to make us all happy. Anyone out there feel this way or is it just me?
Lisa
I loved this blog. I am not positive but I have a positive family member and so I follow the activism very closely. I never cried so hard in my life when I found out and she was comforting me, what strength.I just checked you out on Oprah's site and I am so encouraged. I have found solace as well in the HIV community because I have bipolar disorder and to look at me you would never assume I had a mental disease. It does, however, at times influence my lifestyle, choices, achievements and the way I relate to others. This is something that I particularly would not want people to know about either because of ignorance and false sympathy.At times the things I think, feel and do are dictated by it and sometimes they are not. I want to be free to chose and express the difference not be seen as someone who can't help themselves like nothing in my humanity can be genuine or normal as a human being.This story may seem strange, but I used to be very promiscuous and when guys did not want to use condoms I used to tell them I had the virus. A lot of times they did not want to have sex with me when they heard that or they would then want to use a condom, either way it worked for me. I have settled down now and I still get tested every year, faithfully. It is weird because those who know I have bipolar really can not comprehend the severity of my disorder and have certain expectations and those who don't know I am ill can not even fathom what I go through in private to be able to function properly in public, church, college,family and seem what society would deem as normal. So in the end I look up to you and people such as your self who take a tremendous stand and even those who are quiet, yet live.
December 28, 2007