14/09/2021
5 WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY WITH HIV AND AIDS
1. The right approach
An HIV positive diagnosis is a life-changing event. Although society has made huge strides over several decades, to tackle stigma head-on, we have a long way still to go. A huge part of making progress with the fight against HIV/AIDS involves lifestyle education.
2. Get the right help
The journey to living a long and fulfilling life after receiving an HIV positive diagnosis begins with finding the right help. Asking for help is not a sign of being weak, or unable to cope. It’s a sign of inner strength and self-awareness, that says you need to lean on someone for a while because things are tough. You could call a friend to chat, or speak to a counsellor to help you process the emotions that naturally come with this change. Help could also be found through confiding in your partner about your needs and circumstances. Asking for help is always the stronger choice. You’re not a charity case – you are strong.
3. Take care of your mind
Conquering HIV also needs an iron mind. Confronting scary thoughts, fears and doubts require you to fully understand when they appear, so you can apply the right process to move beyond them. Even the world’s best athletes attribute success to their mental state, not just their physical fitness levels. Getting your mind into the game takes time, so be patient with yourself, and remember:
Look out for telltale signs of depression and anxiety. Nervous feelings, butterflies in your stomach, a tendency to look for excuses to avoid going out with friends or family. Sometimes you can be your own toughest critic and if you don’t deal with it upfront, it could lead to chemical depression which requires more severe intervention and treatment.
Use your resources. Whether you have that last lingering question in your mind when you’re walking out of the doctor’s room of the clinic ward, make sure that you ask it. Your medical team understand that the challenge facing you will create questions in your mind, and they are prepared to help you.
Try something new once in a while to keep your stress levels down. Balance outdoor activities with a variety of arts and crafts or word puzzles to rest your mind from your pressing challenges.
4. Stick to the plan
Discipline is tough, but it’s an important part of coping with HIV. If you consider yourself forgetful, or if work forces you to vary your routine from day to day, try using tools to help you stay on track. Make your medication a part of your morning or bedtime routine, set alarms on your phone or set a family habit in place where everyone takes vitamins and medicines at the same time. Make sure that any decision is approved by your doctor, nurse or clinic sister.
5. Get moving
If you can move your body for one hour a day, and maintain that at least three to four times a week, you’re going to see a major positive turn in your mental, emotional and physical states. Getting the right amount of exercise doesn’t mean you have to become an athlete – it simply means you should move your body in a way you enjoy. Run, walk, dance, kick a ball around for a while, go for a swim, or invest in a skipping rope.
