Here is how you can be supportive:
Talk: Be available to have open, honest conversations about HIV. Follow the lead of the person who is diagnosed with HIV. They may not always want to talk about it, or may not be ready. They may want to connect with you in the same ways they did before being diagnosed. Show them that you see them as the same person and that they are more than their diagnosis.
Listen: Listen to your loved one and offer your support. Reassure them that HIV is a manageable health condition. There are medicines that can treat HIV and help them stay healthy.
Encourage treatment: Some people who are recently diagnosed may find it hard to take that first step to HIV treatment. Your support and assistance may be helpful. By getting linked to HIV medical care early, starting treatment, adhering to medication and staying in care, people with HIV can keep the virus under control and prevent their HIV infection from progressing to AIDS. Encourage your friend or loved one to see a doctor and start HIV treatment as soon as possible.
Learn: Educate yourself about HIV: what it is, how it is transmitted, how it is treated, and how people can stay healthy while living with HIV. Having a solid understanding of HIV is a big step forward in supporting your loved one - but keep in mind that your friend may not want the information right away.
Support medication adherence: It is important for people living with HIV to take their HIV medication every day, exactly as prescribed. Ask your loved one what you can do to support them in establishing a medication routine and sticking to it.
Get support: Take care of yourself and get support if you need it. Turn to others for any questions, concerns, or anxieties you may have, so that the person who is diagnosed can focus on taking care of their own health.
