Every person possesses a completely unique personality that has a significant influence on how we shape our own lives. The individual traits, desires, and needs are all important parts of this personality. Outwardly, these are usually not immediately visible to others and remain hidden unless we actively share them.
Of particular importance are our own needs; yet we are often not truly clear about them ourselves. We can only consciously design our lives to make us happy and to experience a high quality of life if we truly know our needs.
The Art of Accepting Yourself
For people living with HIV (HIV-positive individuals), accepting the diagnosis also plays a key role in preserving one’s quality of life: HIV can become only a smaller part of life if we do not let it dominate our daily existence. This can be achieved in different ways: First, it’s important to look inward. When you educate yourself well about HIV and living positively, and you find a calm approach to dealing with it, that leads to self-acceptance. It is also helpful to create an outer environment where you, as an HIV-positive person, are accepted as you are—with all the colorful facets of your own personality—and where others do not define you merely by the virus.
Consciously Shaping Life with HIV
When you can accept yourself as you are, you have a solid foundation to deliberately reorganize your life with HIV. Even if the diagnosis happened some time ago, beyond regular medical visits there are other routines and life situations that, as an HIV-positive person, you need to navigate effectively.
For instance, it is important to integrate the therapy well into daily life so that it restricts or burdens you as little as possible—avoiding unwanted side effects or psychological stress, such as hiding HIV medications out of fear of discovery.
So you also need an HIV therapy that adapts to you and your unique personality, in the spirit of the motto, “My therapy should fit me, not me fit the therapy.”
How Do I Find a Therapy That Fits Me?
To find an optimal therapy for yourself, it helps first to reflect on your current situation: Are you constantly on the move and feeling stressed about possibly forgetting a pill? Or does taking pills every day weigh on you because it’s a regular reminder of your HIV status, which otherwise wouldn’t matter much in life?
In general, it’s helpful to view HIV therapy as a friend rather than an enemy. The therapy is a companion that protects you without pushing itself on you. You don’t have to simply endure psychological stress or adverse effects. There are now many diverse and innovative therapy options that are easier to tolerate than many older regimens.
While some people handle a daily pill just fine, for others a therapy that uses regular injections may be a better solution. Knowledge of the various therapy options is crucial because it enables you to actively seek solutions and, together with your doctor, choose the option that best fits your life and reduces HIV’s footprint in daily life. It is also helpful to talk with other people living with HIV about their respective therapies, for example with friends or in peer support settings. In such conversations you gain different perspectives and quickly realize that there is no “one-size-fits-all” HIV medication—the aim is an individualized therapy that fits your life.
What Exactly Is an Individualized HIV Therapy?
When selecting a suitable, individualized therapy, the physician first checks whether all available options are open to you or whether there might be resistance to certain active ingredients. Personal preferences also play a crucial role: Are you someone who prefers daily pills, or do you experience pill fatigue, have trouble swallowing, or simply not want to be reminded of your HIV status every day?
If your current therapy does not align with your needs and wishes, you should discuss with your doctor the possibilities for switching or simplifying the therapy.
Finding the Optimal Therapy Together with Your Doctor
An open conversation with your doctor about the various therapy options has the advantage of considering not only the current situation but also staying informed about future developments.
Today, when choosing among the different options, we are in the fortunate position of being able to tailor them to our own needs and lives without worrying about the effectiveness of modern therapies. The choice of a suitable HIV therapy is no longer a matter of necessity. It is this freedom to choose from a wide range of options that helps make HIV a smaller part of life.
For more information about living with HIV and personal stories from people living with HIV, visit www.livlife.de
Supported by ViiV Healthcare
NP-DE-HVU-ADVR-230006
