THE FOA/TOPICS/DISCLOSURE
Copyright 2008. The Friends of AIDS Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
| CLICK HERE |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| THE BODY |
| Need more Information? Visit The Body.com The complete HIV/AIDS Resource with 550+ topics area. |
| Save A Life. Support Our Mission. |
written by: Anthony Bongiorno
Disclosure is much more than a statement about your health, it is a statement
about how you see yourself . The most difficult thing you may ever have to do is
tell someone you have HIV. While disclosure is not always easy, it may help to plan
ahead so that you are able to disclose under the best possible conditions.
Disclosure means telling someone that you are HIV positive. Deciding who to tell
about your HIV status and how to tell them is a personal decision that sometimes
can be complex. If you disclose your HIV status to someone, you're giving them
three pieces of information at the same time.
1. You’re HIV positive.
2. You’re strong enough to deal with their reaction.
3. You trust them.
There is no book of rules for disclosure. Every disclosure is unique, with specific
risks and benefits. It can be a practical means of getting support and referrals.
You’ll also reduce the risk of HIV transmission to others. There is no one best way
to tell someone, just as there is no sure way to know their reaction to your news.
The following information will help with making your HIV disclosure as
stress-free as possible.
A. Know why you want to tell the people you are telling. What do you want from
them?
B. How much am I ready to share or are they ready to hear?
C. How much will disclosing affect me and the people around me?
D. Find someone that can support you through this difficult time. Talk it over and
come up with a plan with someone you can trust.
E. Learn as much as you can about HIV.
F. Have printed material to give to the person to help them understand.
G. Anticipate their reaction so that you can deal with them better.
H. Accept their reaction. You are powerless over the fears and feelings of others.
I . Be patient. It may take some time for those you tell to process the information.
Additional things to consider
Take it slowly—you will be living with HIV for a long time, and your first responsibility
is to yourself and to finding the support you need.
Disclosure can be scary, embarrassing, or painful. But frank conversation usually
leads to knowledgeable decisions and better sexual relationships. There is great
freedom about telling the truth and letting people know who you really are.
about how you see yourself . The most difficult thing you may ever have to do is
tell someone you have HIV. While disclosure is not always easy, it may help to plan
ahead so that you are able to disclose under the best possible conditions.
Disclosure means telling someone that you are HIV positive. Deciding who to tell
about your HIV status and how to tell them is a personal decision that sometimes
can be complex. If you disclose your HIV status to someone, you're giving them
three pieces of information at the same time.
1. You’re HIV positive.
2. You’re strong enough to deal with their reaction.
3. You trust them.
There is no book of rules for disclosure. Every disclosure is unique, with specific
risks and benefits. It can be a practical means of getting support and referrals.
You’ll also reduce the risk of HIV transmission to others. There is no one best way
to tell someone, just as there is no sure way to know their reaction to your news.
The following information will help with making your HIV disclosure as
stress-free as possible.
A. Know why you want to tell the people you are telling. What do you want from
them?
B. How much am I ready to share or are they ready to hear?
C. How much will disclosing affect me and the people around me?
D. Find someone that can support you through this difficult time. Talk it over and
come up with a plan with someone you can trust.
E. Learn as much as you can about HIV.
F. Have printed material to give to the person to help them understand.
G. Anticipate their reaction so that you can deal with them better.
H. Accept their reaction. You are powerless over the fears and feelings of others.
I . Be patient. It may take some time for those you tell to process the information.
Additional things to consider
- Consider where you want the disclosure to take place. A neutral place is
recommended. The important thing is that you choose a place that is
comfortable for you.
- Consider when to tell. Although there is generally no one right time, you
should tell when you feel ready or when you are legally required to do so.
- Just like you, the people you tell will need support too. Don’t expect that just
because you love someone, they will be in a position to support you after
your disclosure. You may need to support them with this new info before they
can be there for you. It is a good idea to have a few numbers on hand of
places they can go for support.
Take it slowly—you will be living with HIV for a long time, and your first responsibility
is to yourself and to finding the support you need.
Disclosure can be scary, embarrassing, or painful. But frank conversation usually
leads to knowledgeable decisions and better sexual relationships. There is great
freedom about telling the truth and letting people know who you really are.
HIV/AIDS 101
BAR TIPS
BREAKING THE STIGMA
CHOOSING A DOCTOR
CONDOM COMEBACKS
DISCLOSURE
HIV/AIDS STATISTICS
HIV/AIDS TESTING SITES
HIV TRAVEL TIPS
LIVING WITH HIV
MAKING SEX SAFER
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
NUTRITION EDUCATION
STARTING TREATMENT
BAR TIPS
BREAKING THE STIGMA
CHOOSING A DOCTOR
CONDOM COMEBACKS
DISCLOSURE
HIV/AIDS STATISTICS
HIV/AIDS TESTING SITES
HIV TRAVEL TIPS
LIVING WITH HIV
MAKING SEX SAFER
NEWLY DIAGNOSED
NUTRITION EDUCATION
STARTING TREATMENT