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Living positively with HIV and AIDS

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Introduction
Coping with any illness is greately facilitated by being proactive in managing it.

Nutrition and exercise
Exercise and diet are especially important for people who are HIV-positive.

HIV and AIDS treatment
Learn about treatment options for HIV and AIDS

People living with HIV
Being connected with other individuals living with HIV and AIDS
can be a powerful source of support and an important resource.

How the UN is helping
Read about how active the UN is in protecting the rights of those affected by HIV and AIDS

Learning that you are infected with HIV/AIDS can change your life dramatically. HIV positive individuals often grapple with many simultaneous emotions, including fear, grief, depression, denial, anger and anxiety, and most importantly, hope.

None of us need be alone if we test HIV-positive. Millions of people throughout the world are living with HIV/AIDS. HIV infection does, though, present important life challenges. Any of us who test HIV-positive should think about contacting a local AIDS service organization or the UN HIV/AIDS focal point in our country to obtain information about a support group to join. By sharing our experiences with other people living with the disease, we can reduce our anxieties, learn new strategies for coping with HIV infection, and build new friendships with people who are facing similar challenges.

As a result of medical advances, those of us who are infected with HIV are now able to live with the disease, healthily and productively. In addition, an extraordinary amount of research is under way to identify even better treatments to build on those that already exist. HIV/AIDS is a major medical condition that must be taken seriously, but it is not necessarily a death sentence.

Drug therapies are becoming increasingly effective, and managing one's exercise and nutrition can contribute to increased health.

If you are HIV positive, it is vital that you maintain your physical and your psychological and emotional health. Having dependable sources of counselling and support can help you lead a happier, more fulfilling life.