Mental Health

Take Care of Your Mental HealthI! t’s normal to feel anxiety, sadness or depression after an HIV diagnosis. Exercise, yoga, prayer or meditation can often help relieve stress. Talk to your health care team about mental health resources, including therapists and support groups.

While learning about HIV and keeping yourself and your partners healthy, know that you are not alone in this fight. You can survive and thrive with HIV. Click here to read inspiring stories of people living with HIV.

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• ●  Receiving an HIV diagnosis can be life changing. You may feel many emotions—sadness, hopelessness, or anger.

• ●  Find support groups for people with HIV

• ●  People with HIV can talk to their health care provider about how they are feeling. They can also tell their health care providers if they are having any problems with drugs or alcohol.

• ●  Health care providers will consider whether any HIV medicines may be affecting the person’s mental health. They can also help people with HIV find a mental health care provider, such as a psychiatrist or therapist.

• ●  Here are additional ways that people with HIV can improve their mental health:

  • ○  Join a support group.

  • ○  Try meditation, yoga, or deep breathing to relax.

  • ○  Get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and stay physically active.

• ●  To find mental health treatment services, use these resources from NIMH and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.