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Steps to Integration
By James L. Helmuth, Ph.D.
Integration, the last stage, lasts forever. In this stage the individual is more or less comfortable with being who he or she is and is able to talk about this at times. Here most of the initial panic, fear, self-hatred, grief and anger is resolved and replaced by a more secure sense of being at peace with who they are.
Depression and HIV/AIDS
People with HIV, their families and friends, and even their physicians may assume that depressive symptoms are an inevitable reaction to being diagnosed with HIV. But depression is a separate issue that can and should be treated, even when a person is undergoing treatment for HIV or AIDS.
Coming Out
Some of the most important (and, in many cases, most difficult) decisions in the lives of gay, lesbian or bisexual people surround "coming out," that is, when they decide to be open and forthright about their sexual orientation. Learn more about "coming out," including tips that may make it easier if you, or someone you know, is thinking about taking this important step.
Homophobia
By Jim Weinstein, M.F.T.
For someone coming to terms with a homosexual orientation, internalized homophobia can be a devastating, ego-undermining psychological phenomenon. Many believe that the higher rates of substance abuse and suicidality in the gay community are directly related to this internalized homophobia--each offering a means of escape from the pain of feeling that one is fundamentally not O.K., that one is somehow "less than."
Ecstasy, Pain, Anxiety, and Shame--The Psychological Complexities of the HIV+ Man
By Jim Weinstein, MBA, MFT
An essential part of understanding HIV’s emotional impact is to recognize that it is as complex as the disease itself. Accordingly, I’ve decided to list a baker’s dozen of the major issues I’ve encountered in talking with hundreds of HIV positive men over the past decade. These are the variables that determine the unique, personal shape of the disease’s shadow on lives. I believe that only through the process of understanding and honoring individual circumstances can that shadow be lifted, and healing occur.
Coming Out to Your Parents
Deciding to tell your parents you’re gay can bring up a wide range of uncertainties and apprehensions. It’s natural to worry about just how you’re going to tell them and how they’ll then react. Becoming informed about the process other individuals and their families have gone through can help you feel better prepared to take the big step of coming out to your parents...
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