This article is part ofHealth Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series.Xiaoyu Liu / VerywellVerywell Health: How can I best manage my HIV diagnosis?Dr. Shepherd: The first and most important step in getting HIV stabilized is to make sure that you have a good relationship with your healthcare provider. Today, after so much HIV research has been done, anundetectable viral loadis possible.It really comes down to being consistent with your healthcare provider visits and making a commitment to taking your medication as prescribed.HIV is not what it used to be. People with HIV can live long, happy lives. The reason that’s possible now is because of the medication treatment options, but also being consistent with that treatment regimen so that you can have undetectable viral loads.HIV causes other stressors too, including disclosing your status. Whether people choose to share their status—which we advocate for—or don’t share their status, it takes an emotional toll. It’s something you will have to discuss with your past, present, and future sexual partners. Having to share their diagnosis can be stressful for people.How to Disclose Your HIV Status to Someone You’re DatingCoping with an HIV diagnosis also requires a lot of emotional support. That support can come throughsupport groupsthat you can find in your community, in your family, or with friends.Managing life with HIV means understanding thatemotional healthis a big part of managing the physical condition itself.Coping and Living With HIV
This article is part ofHealth Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series.
Xiaoyu Liu / Verywell
Verywell Health: How can I best manage my HIV diagnosis?
Dr. Shepherd: The first and most important step in getting HIV stabilized is to make sure that you have a good relationship with your healthcare provider. Today, after so much HIV research has been done, anundetectable viral loadis possible.It really comes down to being consistent with your healthcare provider visits and making a commitment to taking your medication as prescribed.
HIV is not what it used to be. People with HIV can live long, happy lives. The reason that’s possible now is because of the medication treatment options, but also being consistent with that treatment regimen so that you can have undetectable viral loads.
HIV causes other stressors too, including disclosing your status. Whether people choose to share their status—which we advocate for—or don’t share their status, it takes an emotional toll. It’s something you will have to discuss with your past, present, and future sexual partners. Having to share their diagnosis can be stressful for people.
How to Disclose Your HIV Status to Someone You’re Dating
Coping with an HIV diagnosis also requires a lot of emotional support. That support can come throughsupport groupsthat you can find in your community, in your family, or with friends.
Managing life with HIV means understanding thatemotional healthis a big part of managing the physical condition itself.
Coping and Living With HIV
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.HIV.gov.Viral suppression and an undetectable viral load.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.HIV.gov.Viral suppression and an undetectable viral load.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
HIV.gov.Viral suppression and an undetectable viral load.
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