Your willingness to stay nearby through this difficult time may cause you a great amount of distress and worry. Your own health and well-being continue to be very important. You may want to speak with someone who can be supportive of you. You may find it helpful to acknowledge your worries and fears with your loved one as part of going through the experience together. You may also want to confide in someone else.
Many people have a tendency to ignore their own feelings while they focus on the person who is ill.
While some of your own needs may be set aside temporarily, remember how important your good health is not only to the person who is ill but also to your other loved ones. Individuals with AIDS don't want to think or talk about the disease all the time. It is frequently important for them to feel a part of everyday events, and to hear the daily news of family and friends. A sense of humor can be invaluable for keeping some perspective about an AIDS diagnosis. Someone with a life-threatening disease can feel isolated and suddenly cut off from a life that preceded the disease.