People cope differently. Some people still are depressed or still do not want to accept that they are poz 10 years after their diagnosis, others have it under control 10 hours after diagnosis.
Some of the things were mentioned above --- 1) have a good infectious disease doctor. be honest about your sexual activity. if they seem not to listen to your problems very well, they are not the right doctor for you. 2) knowledge. learn all you can about the disease. read up on things that might slow it down and how to stay as healthy as possible. 3) do NOT go out and tell people your status, even if you THINK you can trust them. only tell people that you KNOW you can trust. once it gets out there, there is no turning back. So many people are still to this day ignorant on HIV and still believe the information back in the 80s is true. 4) take your meds everyday. sometimes life gets busy and you might miss a dose, don't freak out. take it as soon as you remember. if it is getting close to be your next dosage do NOT take a double dose!!! 5) dating will be harder. when you find somebody you want to date, you will need to learn that rejection will happen 99% of the time. so when you go on a date, be expected to be rejected. if it happens to go onto another date then great! you just don't want to be in a position where you think things are going great then its time you feel like it is time to disclose and they are out of there faster than the Tasmanian devel. going in with no expectation will not break your heart as bad. 6) stay as positive (no pun intended) as you can. HIV loves stress and works on it. when you get stressed, take a step back and refocus. 7) when you feel a cold-flu-sickness coming over you take steps immediately to try to avoid it --- cough syrup, cough drops, vicks vapor rub, chicken noodle soup, soaking in the tub, or whatever it takes. once the sickness take full front, it will wear you down quick. 8) take a multivitamin with a multimineral every day. HIV depletes your vitamins and minerals 9) people will make you feel unclean, they are just bigoted and uneducated, let it roll off your feathers. at first it is hard, but it gets easier with time. 10) let the tears flow if you must, it will make you stronger. 11) the most important thing, you may have HIV, but HIV doesn't have to have you. By the way you were diagnosed almost exactly 10 years after me. July 28, 2008 here

Don't go down the rabbit hole, stay away from the rabbit hole. Looking up everything bad associated with HIV will depress you. Pick a time to take your meds that really work for you and once your undetectable look at it as 3 seconds of your life then move on with your future and all your plans.

When I was diagnosed , I thought the world had ended . I was 19 , and I felt I had no future . That was 39 years ago . It's okay to cry , cry as much as you want . And then get yourself up , stamp your feet . And tell aids to kiss your ass .

Time and patience will take care of all wounds if you have a forgiving heart. 💓

I have learned to rely on God and there are days I'm on auto pilot and he literally carries me.

Hi. I still remember the feeling that I had when I was told. 2/21/95 seems like yesterday. But try to think of hiv like you would diabetes, high blood pressure, etc...just another manageable condition. It’s not a death sentence. Find your smile and wear it. I know you're thinking it's easy for me to sit and type these words, but just remember, I have lived it. Don't let it get you down. Trust and believe, you ARE going to be ok.