March 13, 2006
“When I found out I was HIV-positive over the summer, I was determined not become discouraged, and to keep living my life to the fullest. Even though I’m doing pretty well accepting my HIV-status, other people in my life are not. I’ve babysat for a family who lives nearby ever since I first came to school three years ago, and I feel very close to them. But when I told them about my HIV status, they told me that they didn’t want me to baby-sit anymore. This upset me greatly, and I tried to educate them about HIV and how it is transmitted, but they wouldn’t listen. I’m realizing that no matter how hard I fight to live a normal life, I’m going to have a hard time dealing with people’s reactions. I could really use some support right now, and I’m too scared to lose anyone else’s friendship. Could someone at SCRS help me work on being more resilient in the face of other people’s reactions?”
WHAT SCRS CAN DO:
- Give you a safe and confidential space in which to discuss the complicated emotions surrounding your HIV and the reactions of people in your life
- Help you figure out how to deal with the fears and misinformation that others have about HIV
- Refer you to support networks in the community
DISCLAIMER: None of the vignettes are based on actual University of Chicago students or
specific incidents. The vignettes suggest possible scenarios but do not
represent any particular University students. The SCRS maintains a strict
confidentiality policy that is outlined our Policies section.
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