Adolescents who are HIV positive have special needs. If you are an adolescent who is HIV infected, or if you think you are at risk for HIV but don't know your HIV status, the Core Center Adolescent HIV Program offers the following ideas to think about. The more an adolescent knows about HIV and risky behaviors, the more likely she or he is to do positive things to keep healthy. Examples of healthy behaviors include:
Getting regular exercise. Exercise doesn't have to mean doing 50 sit-ups like your P.E. teacher made you do in school. If you are a couch potato now, think about a type of exercise you like. Do you like bike riding with friends? Bike riding is very good exercise. Do you like to hang out with your friends in the park? Try walking around the park a couple times while you talk. You will see interesting scenery as you walk, and maybe some interesting people. Also, see the links to web sites about exercise and fitness.
"You are what you eat," may be a cliché, but if you only feed yourself junk food with its high fat and low nutritional content, what will your body use to grow on? Your body need nutritious food for energy to live and fight HIV and illnesses that complicate HIV. It can be very hard to improve eating habits. In general, if you eat lots of fruits and veggies, lots of breads, pastas, and cereals, a some meat or meat substitutes such as beans and rice, and 3 servings of milk or yogurt or cheese everyday, and then think about junk food if you are still hungry, you will have a much better diet than most Americans. See the links about nutrition.
Never starting smoking cigarettes. If you do smoke, think seriously about cutting back and trying to quit. The tobacco companies are finally admitting that cigarettes are harmful even though the scientists knew this way back in 1966! Do you want to be a dupe of the tobacco companies? They love your business and money. When you disregard for the facts about the harmful effects of smoking, you are exactly following the marketing and advertising plan. The tobacco companies need a constant supply of new, young smokers in order to insure that their stock holders receive profits. However, if you are addicted to cigarettes, quitting can be very tough. Get help from your medical provider. There is also a Stop Smoking Clinic in Fantus Clinic.
If you decide to be sexually active, make sure something you really want to do, and make sure you protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. Many adolescents do not decide to have sex, but when in a highly charged situation, have unplanned sex. STD's, HIV and unplanned pregnancies will create crises in an adolescent's life that he or she is usually not prepared to handle. Do you want to let your life just happen, or do you want to have some control over your life? Exert control over your life by consciously deciding to abstain from sex, or if you decide to be sexually active with another person, use protection against HIV, STD's and pregnancy. For more information, see the links to web sites about safer sex practices.
Protect yourself from alcohol and drugs. Even though alcohol is illegal for minors and other drugs are illegal for everyone, there is a drug use epidemic in America. Alcohol and drugs are harmful to your body and immune system. Regular use of drugs and alcohol to avoid problems and hurtful emotions stops a young person's emotional maturing process.
Sometimes an adolescent starts drinking or drugging partly to feel grown up. Yet, drug abuse counselors say that when a person goes into treatment, their maturity level is at the age that the person started using drugs or alcohol . Do you really want to stop your emotional growth and maturity?
In addition, alcohol and drug use will put you in danger of behaving in risky ways. If you are drunk or high, will you care about using condoms when you have sex? You won't be in control of your behavior when intoxicated. Do you want to be out of control of your self and your behavior? There is help available adolescents who already have problems with alcohol or drugs. If this is not a problem for you now, but you are worried, educate yourself about substance abuse. See the substance abuse-chemical dependency section of this web site.
If you are an HIV positive adolescent, it is important to inform yourself about HIV. Your medical provider, for example, a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant should be knowledgeable about HIV in adolescents. If your medical provider is honest with you, and explains things in a way that you can understand, you will be well served. Often, you may need information repeated. It is perfectly ok to ask your medical provider, nurses and counselors questions and more questions if you do not understand the answers the first time.
It is natural and normal for a person your age to believe that she or he will live forever, or that you will beat the odds without treatment. This is especially true when an adolescent with HIV feels well. It is hard to believe that you have to take 8-20 pills a day when you feel perfectly O.K. Your medical provider may be urging you to take medicine everyday, several times a day. It may not make sense to you. This disconnect between how you feel, or your belief that you will beat the odds, and what your medical provider tells you to do to prevent HIV from advancing in you body may cause you to not take your medicines properly.
How can an HIV positive adolescent cope with these problems? The adolescent support groups and peer lead discussion groups at the Core Center can really help you. You will meet other young people who are successfully coping and living with HIV. Seeing and getting to know other people your age who face problems like yours can help you feel more normal and help you see that you are not alone. There are fun, caring people who have had experiences similar to your own.
If you are 12 years old or older, you may legally obtain health care services for HIV testing, HIV treatment, STD testing and treatment, and pregnancy prevention, birth control and prenatal care without a parent's consent. All your medical information will be held in the strictest confidence. However, if you can talk to your parents or other family about your problems, it will help you a great deal.
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