Guest guest Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Up front let me say I'm not a mental health professional, just an experienced PLWHA. Folks living with chronic disease are suceptible to a number of mental health issues, and this is well known in HIV/AIDS. Many folks have issues before they're diagnosed. I'm not sure what you're talking about is an indication of phobia. To me it sounds more like depression and anxiety, which often go hand in hand, and can come from the long term chronic stress of HIV/AIDS which includes both medical issues like side effects, body changes, and fatigue as well as social issues like discrimination and stigma. It's pretty complicated to untangle - for instance who knows if my fatigue is a cause or symptom of HIV infection - but for me seeing someone regularly helps. Alcohol and recreational drug use can also cause or aggravate these kinds of challenges for some of us. It would be good to start by talking to your doctor about medications already being taken and then asking for a referral for qualified care if you agree that's appropriate. Interestingly, it doesn't have to be a psychiatrist. One survey showed that folks benefited from help from just about any provider, be it a licensed clinical social worker (almost all of my counselors have been these), a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. Of course if meds are needed someone who is qualified will have to write prescriptions. I believe it can be harder to find a counselor that is a good match for you than it is to find a doctor that's a good match. You just have to go for it. Ask around for referrals. The last thing you want is someone who is homophobic or HIV-phobic. Make a plan to try the provider for a set amount of time (say 4 to 6 sessions) and if it doesn't work out try someone else. Know that this kind of counseling (where there isn't some major psychiatric diagnosis) relies on your building an honesty based relationship with the provider and you will be doing most of the work. It won't look like a movie or a TV show. The provider will likely listen as a neutral party, reflect what you share so you can understand it more objectively, help identify patterns of thinking or behavior that aren't helping and suggest replacements, challenge things like self-deception or denial if they exist, and often offer very practical advice about every day issues. This has worked for me. I also simply fight for myself. Sometimes I do need to be at home but if I see I am getting in a rut I get out and do something even if it seems challenging or isn't a perfect fit. I am a member of certain clubs that obligate me to get out and socialize. I know it's a bad thing for me to be too isolated and a good thing for me to be around people. Good luck. mark > > How many in here have phobia issues since either learning of status or as you have lived with your status for a number of years. I will now explain why I am asking such a bizarre question. Who knows...??? maybe not so bizarre. The past year+ now my partner hardly ever wants to leave the house. I do everything, groceries, still maintain employment (usually, was just let go yesterday), and most other daily activities. Although, it is just not him. There are times where I do not hardly ever want to go out either, and I have noticed most recently that it is getting in the way of employment. For example, the last job that I held was for a short period of time. I would get there and just didn't have the desire to be there. I khow that sounds ridiculous because how many of us out there hate to work, but this was more intense than that. It would simply feel as though anxiety was overcoming my feelings, along with trying to keep on top of a job as a server with people constantly needing one thing or another. > > Is it a phobia...??? Age??? or can the brain chemistry change with the longer a patient has the virus, OR could possibly the medications have something to do with it. I know that the beginning of Atripla can make someone depressed. > > Just seeing how anyone else out there feels..................... > > http://timehasshownme.com > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 Hi gang. Been away from my computer for a few days while it was being repaired. Happy to be back on-line with it. Trying to do all my e-mail stuff by iPhone can be a chore . . . hard on the thumbs <GRIN>. Which probably means I need to trim down the number of forums to which I subscribe. LOL I wanted to comment on this subject. I co-sign completely, everything Mark Hubbard wrote so elegantly in his response. Speaking as a retired therapist, he gave advice that is right on the money. Speaking as the pos partner in a 10+ relationship with a person who is neg, I can also say that Mark's advice is right on target. I am fortunate to have a great team of professionals in my court . . . we both are. We both use the same PCP (Primary Care Physician), together and separately. We also both see the same psychotherapist, together and separately. I have been in therapy with her for 21+ years, since she was an intern! My partner just recently started seeing her. She knows me like a book and I trust her completely -- I've basically trained her in the way of gays, drunks and HIV. LOL She's great. I cannot stress how important it is, like Mark said, to have someone to talk to and to help sort through life as it hits us in ways that " outsiders " cannot know or understand. To have professionals in my corner who know, understand, comprehend, empathize, who are compassionately openminded & non-judgmental, is a great gift for which I am very grateful. Depression is a huge part of any major life-threatening illness. Left untreated it can add to the stress and make recovery from any setbacks seem almost insurmountable. I do not know how anyone can get through what AIDS throws our way without such a group of professionals. HIV/AIDS is not just a physical malady. It impacts us whole body -- biologically, psychologically, socially and spiritually. All areas must be treated together, as a whole person. In addition, I have found that a group of honest, caring, non-judgmental friends is also essential to my own recovery. Without them these past 4 years would have been impossible. And I'm grateful to be a recovered alcoholic because I also have access to and use a recovery network which is non-judgmental in nature to begin with. Who woulda thunk it -- to be an alcoholic had this kind of benefit! LOL I'm rambling now. But, I just wanted to say that you are not alone. That the feelings, emotions and life battles you are facing can be overwhelming . . . without help, too much to bear. Life on life's terms can be -- and has been -- downright impossible without a positive support network. So, continue to reach out . . . and I've found that when I do, there are people from surprisingly obscure and unexpected places who are just waiting to reach back. I only have to let them know. Hugs for the trudge, ODAT Jon Markle Raleigh, NC 9.9.82 On Jan 10, 2012, at 10:24 AM, mark_h_hubbard wrote: > Up front let me say I'm not a mental health professional, just an experienced PLWHA. > > Folks living with chronic disease are suceptible to a number of mental health issues, and this is well known in HIV/AIDS. Many folks have issues before they're diagnosed. > > I'm not sure what you're talking about is an indication of phobia. To me it sounds more like depression and anxiety, which often go hand in hand, and can come from the long term chronic stress of HIV/AIDS which includes both medical issues like side effects, body changes, and fatigue as well as social issues like discrimination and stigma. > > It's pretty complicated to untangle - for instance who knows if my fatigue is a cause or symptom of HIV infection - but for me seeing someone regularly helps. Alcohol and recreational drug use can also cause or aggravate these kinds of challenges for some of us. > > It would be good to start by talking to your doctor about medications already being taken and then asking for a referral for qualified care if you agree that's appropriate. > > Interestingly, it doesn't have to be a psychiatrist. One survey showed that folks benefited from help from just about any provider, be it a licensed clinical social worker (almost all of my counselors have been these), a psychologist, or a psychiatrist. Of course if meds are needed someone who is qualified will have to write prescriptions. > > I believe it can be harder to find a counselor that is a good match for you than it is to find a doctor that's a good match. You just have to go for it. Ask around for referrals. The last thing you want is someone who is homophobic or HIV-phobic. Make a plan to try the provider for a set amount of time (say 4 to 6 sessions) and if it doesn't work out try someone else. > > Know that this kind of counseling (where there isn't some major psychiatric diagnosis) relies on your building an honesty based relationship with the provider and you will be doing most of the work. It won't look like a movie or a TV show. The provider will likely listen as a neutral party, reflect what you share so you can understand it more objectively, help identify patterns of thinking or behavior that aren't helping and suggest replacements, challenge things like self-deception or denial if they exist, and often offer very practical advice about every day issues. > > This has worked for me. I also simply fight for myself. Sometimes I do need to be at home but if I see I am getting in a rut I get out and do something even if it seems challenging or isn't a perfect fit. I am a member of certain clubs that obligate me to get out and socialize. I know it's a bad thing for me to be too isolated and a good thing for me to be around people. > > Good luck. > > mark > > > >> >> How many in here have phobia issues since either learning of status or as you have lived with your status for a number of years. I will now explain why I am asking such a bizarre question. Who knows...??? maybe not so bizarre. The past year+ now my partner hardly ever wants to leave the house. I do everything, groceries, still maintain employment (usually, was just let go yesterday), and most other daily activities. Although, it is just not him. There are times where I do not hardly ever want to go out either, and I have noticed most recently that it is getting in the way of employment. For example, the last job that I held was for a short period of time. I would get there and just didn't have the desire to be there. I khow that sounds ridiculous because how many of us out there hate to work, but this was more intense than that. It would simply feel as though anxiety was overcoming my feelings, along with trying to keep on top of a job as a server with people constantly > needing one thing or another. >> >> Is it a phobia...??? Age??? or can the brain chemistry change with the longer a patient has the virus, OR could possibly the medications have something to do with it. I know that the beginning of Atripla can make someone depressed. >> >> Just seeing how anyone else out there feels..................... >> >> http://timehasshownme.com >> > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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