Suffering in silence has serious consequences. The elephant in the room can no longer be hidden, and while society as a whole needs to reevaluate its solution to mental health, we see the stigma involved with Mental Health is exactly the same shaming as found in HIV. We need to play a part in the process to remove these effects controlling us and leaving us and others ill informed. Going into care has been mind blowing. I learned that Stigma is wherever there is misunderstanding or ignorance; including fear of being educated. I am almost thirty days into the progress. I am now realizing how...
Angel S.'s blog
As birthdays pass and Holiday comes. I can't help to have a heavy heart. I said good bye to my loved ones some time has passed. This steady breathing is filled with gasps. My dear child has left me. My friend took his life. I have struggled too long to give up yet. I hold dear to my memories of times when we laughed. Free falling is the price. I roll the dice. Today I live. Will that day be tomorrow or shall I excuse myself from playing one last game. I know the price I pay is way too high. I have no energy for this world. God stay with me as I learn to crawl back to the safety of Faith.
Day 3 evening. Left friends, and meeting with David for a small task I said I would help with. Deal was to get dropped off and ride extra bike back home, meet FBI guy, and head out for a bit.
Day 2 evening. I spent the day in bed, slept till 7 pm. I did some small tasks during day but not much.
I have been me for forty six years. I have not always liked me, nor liked my actions; looking back I can see #mypassionrunsdeep.
Upon entering the police vehicle I asked the officer to please let me take my purse so I had my meds, they were very important. I told the officer I was HIV positive and my meds were in the purse. He then screamed at me "What the fuck is wrong with you not telling me you HIV?" I said "I didn't know we were going to have sex." He said it's my job to alert everyone upon my contact with them to disclose. When I asked him about the HIPAA law and if he was familiar with it and how it was in place to protect myself from certain people disclosing confidential medical information they may only know...
This year I was looking forward to changes with the new president. I realize it is a choice to get on an antiviral therapy and continue to strive to reach an undetectable viral load. Today I went to fill my prescription - $3209.00 deductible. That is quite a bump up from the usual co-pay. What a surprise after 10 years of meds and adherence to stay healthy. All the while educating not only myself but my community on the importance in knowing your status. I cannot help to notice the error in Health reform. This will set us back in the fight against HIV. However, it’s closer than that for me. To...
I see, I was offered a place to stay to get things going in a favorable direction. After some time of living under the same roof and eating out often together, Sex came into play. At that moment I was confronted with the real life struggle of Stigma as I know and fear of others’ beliefs of what living with HIV is really like day to day for of us; doing it. Every day is just the same as one would expect. I get the work done that needs to be done. I enjoy family, laugh, live. Enjoy being yourself. It is that perfect order within; no judging from inside (self) or outer sources (life/human...
I read several blogs this week reminding me: not everyone has to or can be at the front. Those of us who like to work behind the scenes are actually very productive in our communities given we love what we do.
In response to Walking the Thin Black Line of Violence in the Lives of HIV+ Women by Loren Jones, Board Member, Positive Women’s Network-USA I was thinking the same thing when I read about a Day of Action to End Violence. Against Women. I was thinking… Where is the solution? Being a woman who has experienced so much violence and you describe it beautifully well; however sad… it’s true. We wish to teach our children to stand up, to fight, to advocate for themselves. Then the reality of what you’re up against becomes very real. A friend, a lover, someone you just met. That individual, at some...