The Connection In My Life Between Depression and HIV

Charlie Johnson, who has been living with HIV for fourteen years, describes the connection between depression and HIV in his life, including: how HIV's effect on the brain contributes to feelings of depression; different ways he has managed his depression; why he tried but stopped using antidepressant medications; and how helping other people has proven to be the most effective way for him to treat his own depression. Charlie is a co-founder of Global Lifeworks. Visit http://www.GlobalLifeworks.org and http://AIDSvideos.org to learn more. This video is freely downloadable from http://www.archive.org/details/aidsvideos_depression . [Do you want to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS? Are you fluent in a language other than English? Then volunteer to translate our videos into other languages! Click http://AIDSvideos.org/translate.shtml to to learn how you can help!!! © Copyright 2006-2011 Global Lifeworks. All rights reserved. This work is licensed to be used for non-commercial purposes under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/.]

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HIV
• AIDS
• depression
• antidepressant
• heroin
• addict
• injection
• drugs
• intravenous
• virus
• drug
• abuse
• helping
• people

[XaviersSecretary]

The real question is on my mind is.. how DID you get HIV?

But no, really, how did you?

[AIDSvideos]

It's none of our business how a person contracted HIV. That's private medical information. I never ask people that question, and I encourage others to do likewise. Also, I really dislike the nasty, prying, condescending tone of that comment.

[XaviersSecretary]

My opinions I'm sure on HIV and AIDS differ from yours, but when the person is responsible for receiving the virus, it is their fault. That is why this virus is not usually talked about over the dinner table, because it is always a personal issue.

[AIDSvideos]

You are just a teenager. You don't realize how presumptuous, inappropriate, and harmful it is for you to run around issuing your lofty judgments of others, and how blaming and stigmatizing as you're doing is hurtful not helpful and a key driver of the epidemic. Develop some humility. Be like Socrates, aware of your own ignorance. Stop judging and blaming. You're too young and immature to do that right or well. Instead, focus on actually HELPING (i.e. serving) other people.

[neuter00]

You are a hero and an inspiration to all.

Thank you.

[007HoneyBrit]

Whatever the rants are going on below,the bottom line is that you are a human being that is suffering.You may help many ppl by doing this so thats a great thing to do.I wish you well in your battle.

[faridjabba]

he on treatment?

[JenLC262]

God bless you, in 2008 I was diagnosed unknowingly with HPV (cancer causing one), although it's minimal to HIV, and went through a deep depression.

[packamacka]

Hello Charlie. Blessings to you. The mind is very powerful. Depression is an attack on the mind and you can fight but its hard relying on your own efforts, alone. This may go against conventional thought but maybe talking about the depression actually reinforces the problem. What we say has an effect on what we think and feel and ultimately do. Try talking about healing and recovery. Speak to people who have. God bless you.

[AIDSvideos]

Note the complete lack of specificity in RedPepper75's comment. I cited a series of independently verifiable facts. He responded with a vague claims that my comment was "wrong." As usual, with the HIV denialists, you can believe independently reproducible scientific research study results, or you can believe the HIV denialists "because they say so." Your choice. Your life.

[redpepper75]

wrong on so many levels