Different people will have different experiences when disclosing their status to others, for Karta the stigma he faced meant that this was a very painful time for him. However, this isn’t the case for everyone, many people are surprised by how supportive their friends and family are. To make sure no one has to go through what Karta did, we have to keep challenging HIV stigma whenever we see it. If you are facing troubles like Karta, there are places you can go for support. Look online to see if there are support groups in your area, and talk to your healthcare advisor as they might be able to offer you guidance. Whatever you do, remember your rights, living with HIV shouldn’t stop you from living a normal and happy life.
*These personal stories have been submitted to us anonymously by individuals who use our site. Some of the stories have been edited for clarity purposes. Some names have been changed to protect identities.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/bo1982.