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Atlanta is one of the hardest-hit metro areas in the U.S., especially for new HIV infections among young people in disproportionately affected communities. At HYPE, we are developing programs to mentor and cultivate HIV-positive youth and their families to become leaders and advocates for their communities and to manage their health, finances, and social responsibilities.
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HOW TO TELL IF SOMEONE HAS HIV
By Sonja Mattison
Edited By: H.Y.P.E. to Empower, Inc.
The Book Cover
There is an old saying, “Do not judge a book by its cover.” This is so true and can go further than choosing which book to buy for leisure or even learning. Sometimes we will be lucky with our judgment beforehand; other times we will not. Many times the books we choose do not permit exchanges or returns. In this instance, we are stuck with our purchases regardless of whether it brings us joy or discontent.
A Valuable Lesson
Judging a book by its cover is blindsight, but at the same time, a valuable lesson. The lesson can be related to people. Often when we meet people, we judge them based on their appearance and categorize them. Ways that we prejudge them can pertain to the following:
Foremost, preconceived notions can leave us with several surprises. Often, people are the opposite of what we think or how we want them to be. It takes time to find out the true individual that stands before us. Prejudgment can prove our perceptions as wrong in many instances. It creates negative images of people. From those untrue negative images damage people’s reputations and internally hurt individuals, which leads us to our next topic.
How To Tell If Someone Has HIV
When someone contracts HIV, the common symptoms are flu-like. So, if this is so, and one has flu-like symptoms, does it signify that the individual has the flu or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm…. One of the flu-like symptoms is weight loss. So, if a person loses a tremendous amount of weight, does that mean that they have an eating disorder or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm...Another symptom is heavy coughing. So, if a person has more than just a simple coughing, does that indicate that a person is suffering from pneumonia or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm…. The last question, if a person looks healthy, does that signify the person is HIV positive or negative?
The answer is: Do not judge a book by its cover. HIV is only known after testing and the given results.
Testing
Testing is the only way to truly confirm if someone has HIV. Testing is safe and easy and the results are available in 20 minutes or less. Start every intimate encounter by sharing your status and asking your partner theirs. Then have a proper discussion as to whether you should start or continue intimate relationships. It is best to go beyond prejudgment when interested in knowing if someone is HIV positive. Instead of visually scanning the person, it’s best to:
These are all options based on results.
Why To Test
There are many myths about HIV that can deter us from wanting to be tested. Most of these myths put fear in us. Some myths about HIV are:
Because of the myths that create a sense of uneasiness, it is most important that we know about HIV so that we can clear the myths up, which is why testing should be done. It lessens the fear we may have and brings awareness to the forefront.
How And Where Do I Begin?
If you are interested in being tested there is information that can help.
CDC.gov and HIV.gov are useful for finding out this information.
Below are two links that provide resources and testing information.
Edited By: H.Y.P.E. to Empower, Inc.
The Book Cover
There is an old saying, “Do not judge a book by its cover.” This is so true and can go further than choosing which book to buy for leisure or even learning. Sometimes we will be lucky with our judgment beforehand; other times we will not. Many times the books we choose do not permit exchanges or returns. In this instance, we are stuck with our purchases regardless of whether it brings us joy or discontent.
A Valuable Lesson
Judging a book by its cover is blindsight, but at the same time, a valuable lesson. The lesson can be related to people. Often when we meet people, we judge them based on their appearance and categorize them. Ways that we prejudge them can pertain to the following:
- Establishing relationships
- Deciding what type of person they are
- Deciphering the level of their intelligence
- Determining their personality
Foremost, preconceived notions can leave us with several surprises. Often, people are the opposite of what we think or how we want them to be. It takes time to find out the true individual that stands before us. Prejudgment can prove our perceptions as wrong in many instances. It creates negative images of people. From those untrue negative images damage people’s reputations and internally hurt individuals, which leads us to our next topic.
How To Tell If Someone Has HIV
When someone contracts HIV, the common symptoms are flu-like. So, if this is so, and one has flu-like symptoms, does it signify that the individual has the flu or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm…. One of the flu-like symptoms is weight loss. So, if a person loses a tremendous amount of weight, does that mean that they have an eating disorder or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm...Another symptom is heavy coughing. So, if a person has more than just a simple coughing, does that indicate that a person is suffering from pneumonia or HIV/AIDS? Hmmm…. The last question, if a person looks healthy, does that signify the person is HIV positive or negative?
The answer is: Do not judge a book by its cover. HIV is only known after testing and the given results.
Testing
Testing is the only way to truly confirm if someone has HIV. Testing is safe and easy and the results are available in 20 minutes or less. Start every intimate encounter by sharing your status and asking your partner theirs. Then have a proper discussion as to whether you should start or continue intimate relationships. It is best to go beyond prejudgment when interested in knowing if someone is HIV positive. Instead of visually scanning the person, it’s best to:
- Get tested with your partner
- Share your results with your each other
- Consider PREP, if would like extra protection.
- Start treatment if you test positive for any STI
These are all options based on results.
Why To Test
There are many myths about HIV that can deter us from wanting to be tested. Most of these myths put fear in us. Some myths about HIV are:
- HIV is a death sentence.
- You can tell if someone has HIV/AIDS by looking at them.
- Straight people do not have to worry about HIV infection.
- HIV always leads to AIDS.
- HIV-positive people cannot safely have children.
Because of the myths that create a sense of uneasiness, it is most important that we know about HIV so that we can clear the myths up, which is why testing should be done. It lessens the fear we may have and brings awareness to the forefront.
How And Where Do I Begin?
If you are interested in being tested there is information that can help.
CDC.gov and HIV.gov are useful for finding out this information.
Below are two links that provide resources and testing information.
- https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/hiv-service-locators.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/hotlines.html
