DISCLOSING YOUR HIV STATUS TO OTHERS

If you recently found out that you are HIV positive, you will need to notify any sexual partners or people with whom you have shared needles of your status so that they can get tested. If you are unable to do this yourself, the local Health Department in your area will notify people that they might have been exposed to HIV without mentioning your name.

Whether you have just recently tested positive for HIV or have known your status for a while, it can be difficult to know who to tell about it, when to tell them, and how to go about telling them. Other than notifying sexual partners or people with whom you have shared needles that they may have been exposed, the decision to disclose your HIV status is entirely up to you. You don't have to tell anybody. Once you tell somebody that you are infected with HIV, they will never forget it, so it is important that you take your time to decide if you are ready to do this.

The Benefits of Telling Others:

• You can choose to tell people who you trust and who you feel will be able to offer you love and support. The support and understanding of close family members and friends will help you to deal with the diagnosis of HIV and with the physical and mental health challenges that you will face living with this chronic disease. Having someone to talk with will help as you deal with the emotions that you undoubtedly are feeling; anxiety, fear, anger, disbelief, and depression are all very common.
  
• You will not have to hide your HIV status; keeping a secret of this magnitude from those you are close to can be extremely stressful. By disclosing your status, it will be easier for you to go to appointments for health care and to take medications if needed. You will also have the option of having someone come with you to medical appointments in order to help you to understand and deal with your health issues. In addition, your family will benefit from knowing that you are receiving good health care.
  
• You will reduce the chances of transmitting the virus to others. You will be able to educate yourself and others about how the virus is spread and dispel any myths about casual household contact resulting in infection. You will learn how to protect yourself and your sexual partners. It is important to note that in many states in the U.S. not telling a sexual partner that you are HIV positive before having intimate contact is considered to be a felony.Whether
• Whether or not you disclose your HIV status to other health care providers is your decision, but they will be able to provide better and more appropriate care to you if they are aware of your stHealthcarelthcare providers are knowledgeable about how to protect themselves against HIV.
  

The Downside to Telling Others:

• People may discriminate against you because you have HIV. This is largely due to fear of the disease and the lack of understanding in the general population about HIV and how the infection is spread. There are also issues of stigma relating to sexual preferences or even drug use that many people have to deal with. You may face uncomfortable questions from people about how you became infected.
• Others may have a difficult time accepting your status; they may back away from you because they do not know what to say or do, or they may be overly-concerned and overprotective. Again, educating people oftentimes helps those close to you to accept and deal with an HIV diagnosis.
• You may be rejected in dating situations and find it difficult to become indiagnosis.Youew relationship due to the fear of rejection once you disclose your status. Every situation is different, and you don't have to tell everyone that you date that you are HIV positive. However, if the relationship evolves to a point where you will be in an intimate situation where HIV could be transmitted, you will need to discuss your HIV status. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be for both you and your potential sexual partner.
• It is illegal for employers to inquire about your health or any disabilities partner.Itay have, however they may legally ask you if you have any conditions that would result in you being unable to perform essential functions of the job. All HIV positive Americans are protected from job discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As long as you are able to perform the essential duties of the job, your employer cannot discriminate against you because of your HIV status. If your illness or the side effects of medications interfere with your performance, or if you require time away from work frequently for medical appointments, you may want to consider discussing your HIV status with your employers and presenting them with a letter from your healthcare provider verifying your disability. Most employers will gladly make any accomodations necessary for an employee who wants to continue working. Be sure to inform them if you want to keep your HIV status confidential; they are prohibited by law from disclosing your status to anybody else.
  

When you are considering telling someone else that you are HIV positive, try to anticipate and prepare for their reaction. Be ready to answer questions about your health and about HIV disease itself. You may want to have some brochures or written information available to help the person to understand. Above all else, realize that you cannot control how other people will react to or feel about the news that you are infected with HIV. Have someone available who can support you and help you to accept the reaction that you get.