FRANÇAIS PRINT-READY PDF TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE RELATED LINKS Managing Your Health, 1999 edition Emotional and Spiritual Support
Prejudice and your emotions
Because of the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS many people feel guilty or ashamed after learning that they're HIV positive. Experiencing AIDSphobia (fear of people with HIV/AIDS), homophobia (fear and hatred of lesbians and gay men), or any kind of prejudice is hurtful. Some people worry about what others will think when they find out. Worries about HIV can bring up uncomfortable feelings about your sexuality or drug use. You may worry about infecting others, or think that AIDS is a punishment. The reality is that no one is at fault for being HIV positive.
You may need to develop ways to protect yourself emotionally from other people's prejudice, whether that means not telling people about your HIV status, or joining together with others to work for change.
Sometimes language is used to pressure you to deal with your emotions in ways other people think are right. Often the word
“denial” is used in a way that is judgemental and assumes that there is a “correct” way to respond to HIV/AIDS. The word “anger” also gets misused. For example, you may complain about receiving poor health care and be told that you are “carrying around a lot of anger.” This is insulting and a way to avoid addressing your concerns. | 
