Being newly diagnosed takes a lot out of you. You don't really know what direction to go in and standing still makes you think. Thinking asks questions that result in more confusion.

You now have a life where you go to the doctor's every three months. You may or may not depending on your personal diagosis have medications to take. You are now thrust into a world of support groups, rollercoaster emotions and why's?

Wrapping your mind around the rush of information that is continuously being thrown your way is almost impossible. Fact verses myth, truth verses lies and the never ending stream of clinical information.

Your emotions are a cyclone at any given time. You may seesaw between acceptance and denial at any moment, rage and bitterment, hatred and sorrow.

You are confused about who to tell, who not to tell, how to tell those you need to know, who needs to know. Do you tell your job? Do you tell your friends and family members? Which friends and family members do you tell. How do you tell these people?

The first step you need to take is to learn as much as you can about the facts concerning HIV/AIDS.

The second step about disclosing is to analyze why you are telling the person(s) you have selected to tell. What do you expect from them?

The third step is to anticipate their reaction. What will you do if they react horribly? What will you to if they react great?

The fourth step is to have printed materials available for the person to help them understand. Having this printed information can be invaluable to the individual that you are disclosing too.

You may want to have a support person in place before you decide to disclose to people. Someone who can help you come up with a strategy on how and what to do.

You have to accept the reaction regardless of what it is. You cannot control how people will react to this news. Nor can you control the amount of time it will take them to completely respond to the news. Some people may respond immediately. Others may need a great deal of time to process the information.

You can control how you respond. Respond with acceptance regardless of the outcome. Understand that if rejection is involved, they are rejecting the virus and not you personally.

If the person needs time, give them just that... time. Understand that the same way it was and is a lot for you to process; the same goes for them.
You cannot pressure them into understanding or coming around on your schedule.

Disclosure is just one of the steps that those living with HIV/AIDS must tackle. This article is just a stepping stone toward being able to handle the task with pride and objectivity.

For more infomation on disclosure, way to disclose or support please see:

https://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Disclosure_7568.shtml