Telling your boss and coworkers can have financial and legal ramifications. It is best to start with a few friends or family with whom you feel close and whom you can trust not to tell others. Developing a community of support is a process and takes time. There may be HIV-positive support groups in your area or HIV hotlines that provide education and helpful support. It is normal to have strong reactions such as fear, anger, and a sense of being overwhelmed.
Some people even have suicidal thoughts.
It is understandable that you might feel helpless and fear illness, disability and death. This denial may come up soon after the diagnosis is made. It can, however, cause problems for oneself and others if one engages in risky behavior. And if it goes on too long it can get in the way of your getting the assistance and medical attention you need. It is not unusual for people to blame themselves for illness and to feel it is punishment.