How are you coping mentally with your diagnosis?

Hello all,

You can call me Bee... I have been diagnosed for about 5 years and have over time become more and more comfortable with "owning" my diagnosis and educating others just how far medicine has come. Often there is a stigma attached to the words HIV or AIDS.

My journey was not easy and I do not go around openly disclosing my diagnosis; however, I no longer shy away from it or feel shame when I should disclose condition: relationships, certain medical professional appointments. But what helped me is understand what led to my diagnosis and become accepting of that, then become accepting of my life that I have the diagnosis, and then become accepting of that fact that the diagnosis does not define me for the rest of my life. These were not easy steps and were not done over night.

However, I am now coping mentally, socially, and emotionally 100% better than I was 5 years ago. I would love to hear other stories and how you are coping and perhaps we can work together to better us!

Hope all is well,
Bee