Learning that you are HIV-positive can be one of the most difficult experiences you go through in life. You may feel scared, sad or even angry – this is OK, and a completely natural part of coping with something that can be life changing.
But remember, HIV doesn’t have to stop you living a long, happy and fulfilling life. With the right treatment and support, it is possible to live as long as the average person. There are a lot of misconceptions about what it means to be living with HIV. Ultimately, everyone’s lives are different – how you cope with your diagnosis and how you move forward will be unique.
Nomvuselelo Mfenyana has learnt a lot about herself since her HIV diagnosis and explains how she deals with things and how her community helps her and accepts her. She had become more headstrong especially because the people around her refuse to let her go. When she told friends and relatives about her status she first thought people would run for the hills, but to her surprise people told her they didn’t care. They embraced her. Inspiring! We all need to get together in order to help end the stigma about HIV.
If you have your own story to tell, you can send us an email and we’ll do our best to publish it. Just let us know if you’d like to remain anonymous.
