Overcome feelings of guilt and shame associated with an HIV diagnosis and become a positive force for change in addressing misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding the condition.
Courtesy of Blackdoctor.org
Originally posted for Blackdoctor.org
Breaking the Stigma: Addressing Misconceptions and Stereotypes about HIV
We’ve come a long way in HIV and AIDS awareness and understanding. However, there is still a dark cloud that sometimes hangs over individuals diagnosed with the condition. If you or someone you know has tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), feelings of guilt and shame are not uncommon.
Learn to become a force for change rather than having so many negative feelings about the diagnosis. Even today, many stereotypes and misconceptions exist about HIV. While sometimes unfair, together, we can change these ideas and thoughts.
People diagnosed with HIV are just like anyone else diagnosed with a health condition. In fact, with proper treatment, the majority of individuals with HIV can lead normal, healthy lives.
Here are some aspects we should consider to break the stigma surrounding “HIV-Positive.”
Social Acceptance
Once upon a time, HIV was considered a death sentence. People were terrified that they could ‘catch’ it easily, and often shunned individuals known to be infected. Today, we understand that HIV can be very treatable and can affect individuals, families, and groups across all categories.
Men and women, adults and children, may all be at risk for HIV. While risk-taking related to sex and drug use may increase the likelihood, these people should not be shamed. Rather, they should be supported to make different choices and embrace different lifestyles.
Personal responsibility, healthy hobbies, and peer support networks play a critical function in preventing and addressing HIV spread. By fostering community and not disparity, we can help ease the discrimination toward individuals with HIV and AIDS.
Medical Knowledge
With modern medicine, we’ve made leaps and bounds toward treating patients with HIV. Even so, many people today still struggle with understanding an important difference. HIV and AIDS – while related – are not the same. AIDS is a syndrome related to a compromised immune system and typically occurs in the late stages of HIV.
Fortunately, the majority of people with HIV never develop AIDS because the medication prevents that progression. Even more, you can live with someone with HIV and never contract the virus. This is because HIV medication can
reduce the individuals’ viral load to an undetectable level. That said, it may take many months before a person with HIV reaches such a low viral load.
Appropriate Language
Another way to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV is by using inclusive and respectful language. For instance, we should speak of individuals with HIV or AIDS, rather than make HIV or AIDS the main adjective that describes them (i.e., an HIV patient). By doing this, we shift the power from the condition and make that condition just something the person lives with – and not the totality of that person.
We should also speak of HIV and AIDS in medically accurate terms. Instead of saying “catch” or “pass,” we should use the terms “transmit,” “acquire,” and “diagnosed.” This helps people understand that HIV and AIDS are not ‘caught’ or ‘passed’ like colds through sneezing and coughing.
Language is power, as they say, so choosing our words carefully is critical. Many times, people with HIV and AIDS may feel powerless. The words we use might be an endless reminder of the issues they face. Given that HIV can be well-regulated with medication, talking like this is not only hurtful but ignorant.
Restoring Normalcy
At the end of the day, we’re all human. We want to be treated with respect and dignity, not verbally abused or neglected.
Individuals living with HIV and AIDS may have endured life circumstances and situations that led to their diagnosis. In some cases, it could have happened to any of us. By appreciating and understanding these challenges, we can remove the stigma around “HIV-Positive” and create a more compassionate and informed world.
#BreakingTheStigma #HIVAwareness #ChangingMinds
