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Getting him to be more healthy
May 26, 2006

My botfrind recently found out that he is HIV positive and I am not becuase we have never had sex but he likes to drink not allthe time but he stilldoes and his eating habits aren't a help to the situation either. I try to get him to understand that he needs to take better care of himself but he feels that everythign is fine and he can eat waht he wants and live for years and I am trying to explain to him that if he doesn't take care of himself to the best of his ability then he won't live as long as he would like. He thinks that I am trying to tell him what to do or be his mother and I am not it's just general concern especialy becuase my uncle just died of AIDS a montha ago and he drank himself in the grave. I have seen what it does and I don't want it to happen that quickly with him. What should I do?

Response from Dr. Horwath

It sounds like you've done what you can. You're boyfriend needs to decide if he's going to take his health seriously. You can encourage him and advise him, but he's the one who is most directly affected by his actions and he clearly does not like to feel that he's being controlled. Even if he makes questionable decisions, he needs to be given the room to make them on his own.



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