Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The Psychological Impact of AIDS/HIV: People are More Than a Statistic

http://org.elon.edu/summit/essays/essay4.pdf
This essay addresses not only the devastating physiological impacts of the AIDS virus, but also the major psychological effects on both people living with this disease and their caregivers. The extent of this psychological impact varies between persons. However, facing catastrophic changes in their personal and professional relationships, as well as in their bodies and self-image can cause great distress to the patient and those who care about him or her. Sufferers may become aggressive or withdrawn to those close to them because they may feel victimized. Also, the social stigma against those infected with this disease often stirs up feelings of being devalued and lessened as a person, resulting in a loss of confidence in themselves and what they believe they can accomplish. The well-being of those infected, along with caregivers is dependent on their ability to confront unrelenting fear and denial while attempting to maintain hope, an uphill battle to say the least.

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