Like most of us, knowing I'm infected with HIV makes me feel anxious and depressed at times, and the balance between the demands of living and my ability to cope varies. In those cases, I try to rely on more realistic methods.
Exercise helps tremendously.
I feel better afterwards, physically and emotionally, and I feel good about having done something, at age 46, that will probably contribute to my living longer. On those days when I am more fatigued, I can tone down the exercise and open it up on days when my energy seems more boundless. Having someone I can talk to is also essential. I talk to my friends about the long-term impact of HIV on my life and when I feel overwhelmed by it all. I also have used and would use psychotherapy to find ways to cope, accept, problem solve or move beyond obstacles from AIDS or life in general.