Dealing with HIV, PERIOD!!

Similar situation here, and my family is absolutely no help to turn to.  I was dating but that went out the window as well. What exactly does a single Pos. person do?

@AriesRacer‍ Just live and be healthy. One day someone will except us and love us no matter our condition. When will that happen? No idea....Who will it be? No idea...How will it come about? Shit, I don't know. But I believe it will happen

I guess I'm trying to find the motivation to do so, but having a hard time coming up with a valid reason... especially knowing there isn't anyone around to miss me or care that I'm not there. Prolonging the loneliness doesn't sound all that appealing. 

@AriesRacer I used to feel this way too, especially when I was first diagnosed. Believe me, there are people out there who will love you. I'm with the same partner for years now who knows about my condition and doesn't care. He loves me just the way I am. I also have great friends, some who know, some who don't, but I don't any of them would care in the least.

It takes awhile and if there's one in your area, you might want to join a support group or an HIV association. It was a great way for me to find people who were going through the same issues and make friends. Stay strong.

I've been blessed by people who accept my status. I haven't told everyone, and figure there is no need that everyone knows my business. Accept me as I am, or don't. I don't want to worry about if people are scared of my status, or judging me, so I am selective of who knows.

For those of you feeling like you will have to live alone due to your status, please think about this -  the main reason that you may be alone, could simply be your own attitude and lack of confidence. As a peer counselor for a health department, I meet all kinds of positive people with differing ways of dealing with their status. If you can work on your way of looking at things, and instead of doubting, try to be confident you will find your right person. There are HIV dating websites, and not everyone on those sites are positive. It is a difficult conversation telling your potential partner of your status, and yes, it might scare them away. But if you know you are worthy of being loved, and yes, you ARE worthy, you can find someone that deserves you. This is coming from someone who has always had low self esteem, and always second guessed myself. If I can finally accept and love myself despite my numerous flaws, so can you. It takes work, and you must continually argue with yourself to make yourself change your way of thinking, but it is so worth it. YOU are worth it. 

I've been blessed by people who accept my status. I haven't told everyone, and figure there is no need that everyone knows my business. Accept me as I am, or don't. I don't want to worry about if people are scared of my status, or judging me, so I am selective of who knows.

For those of you feeling like you will have to live alone due to your status, please think about this -  the main reason that you may be alone, could simply be your own attitude and lack of confidence. As a peer counselor for a health department, I meet all kinds of positive people with differing ways of dealing with their status. If you can work on your way of looking at things, and instead of doubting, try to be confident you will find your right person. There are HIV dating websites, and not everyone on those sites are positive. It is a difficult conversation telling your potential partner of your status, and yes, it might scare them away. But if you know you are worthy of being loved, and yes, you ARE worthy, you can find someone that deserves you. This is coming from someone who has always had low self esteem, and always second guessed myself. If I can finally accept and love myself despite my numerous flaws, so can you. It takes work, and you must continually argue with yourself to make yourself change your way of thinking, but it is so worth it. YOU are worth it. 

@PeerJanice Wow Janice I am glad there is someone out there like you as a peer counselor! You have such great advice!

I'm not sure I can add anything helpful seeing as so many good things have been said, but I'll try any way:

For those of you who are newly diagnosed, or for those of you who are still struggling and have had it for a while (because that it ok, I was diagnosed as a child and I STILL have bad days), just know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You have a whole community behind you and this is NOT a death sentence. There is no reason to be ashamed or to feel bad about yourself. You are you and you are worthy of being loved, regardless of your status. 

Please reach out to any of us on here if you need to talk!

@lookingforcontacts72 thank you! I love that I can be of help to others. Never, did I think I would be doing this, as I am a very private person. But God put me here. It was an extremely difficult couple of years before this job, going through a divorce after 24 year marriage, but now that I am here, I know it was just part of my journey to be able to help others.