 |
   
|
  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Reasons to Not Reveal Your HIV Status During the HolidaysBy Candace Y.A. Montague November 22, 2011
The holiday season is upon us once again. For some it is joyous. For others it is torturous. No matter how you feel about visiting relatives and eating countless plates of food, it is safe to say that the holiday season is not a good time to disclose to your family that you are HIV positive. Here are three simple reasons why: 1. The holiday season is not about you. Yes it is convenient for you to get it all out and tell everyone at one time instead of repeated phone calls but isn't that a tad selfish. Revealing your status during the holidays will inevitably turn the focus to you. Your family will have questions. Lots of questions. They will worry about you. They may cry for you. Enjoy each other's company and the love of your family for now. You can educate them all year long about HIV. 2. It's a festive occasion. The key word here is festive. HIV is not a death sentence but the stigma surrounding it can be. Even discussing HIV/AIDS in general can put a damper on the mood. Your family may have been very supportive in the past but do they know enough about this virus to not freak out when you tell them your status. Some people need a lot of comfort to deal with potentially devastating news. And grandma's cooking is not enough. Holidays are times for making memories not for futile mourning. 3. If you are newly diagnosed, you need to take time to deal with your diagnosis. Any major threat to a person's health can be debilitating to the human spirit. If you haven't confronted the news and put things into perspective yet (like the fact that you will live on with HIV), you are liable to fall apart at any given moment. Anything can trigger that feeling of mourning and sadness and ruin your holiday. Seek counseling to help you cope with your diagnosis (or any other issues) before talking with your family. Absorb the love, laughter and memories of the holidays and leave your troubles in the yard with the decorations. Get e-mail notifications every time Candace's blog is updated.
Add Your Comment:
(Please note: Your name and comment will be public, and may even show up in
Internet search results. Be careful when providing personal information! Before adding your comment, please read TheBody.com's Comment Policy.) |
BLOG:
D.C. HIV/AIDS Examiner  Candace Y.A. Montague Candace Y.A. Montague has been learning about HIV since 1988 (and she has the certificates from the American Red Cross to prove it). Health is a high priority to Candace because she believes that nothing can come of your life if you're not healthy enough to enjoy it. One of her two master's degrees is in Community Health Promotion and Education. Candace was inspired to act against HIV after seeing a documentary in 2008 about African-American women and HIV. She knew that writing was the best way for her to make a difference and help inform others. Candace is a native Washingtonian and covers HIV news all around D.C. She has covered fundraisers, motorcycle rides, town hall meetings, house balls, Capitol Hill press conferences, election campaigns and protests for The DC Examiner.com and emPower News Magazine. Subscribe to Candace's Blog:
Recent Posts:
May 6, 2014 - Artist Luke James Discusses the Importance of Health and Love: A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague
April 18, 2014 - Three Things You Still Need to Know About Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague March 7, 2014 - How Technology Decreases the Stigma Surrounding STDs: A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague January 21, 2014 - Safer Sex Advice From Dr. Rachael Ross: A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague December 19, 2013 - Dating Websites for People Living With STDs: Are They Worth It? A Blog Entry by Candace Y.A. Montague A Brief Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself. |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Site Policies | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 750 3rd Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Email
Comments
Print-Friendly
Glossary
Subscribe
