No one should have to deal with problems on their own. Talking to someone close to you about how you feel about HIV and its effect on your life can often really help. But if you don’t feel able or ready to talk to friends, family or loved ones about your feelings, there is support available from organisations which are there to offer help.

A good place to start is the Terrence Higgins Trust helpline, THT Direct (0808 802 1221), where there are trained staff and volunteers who you can talk to in confidence about your feelings and concerns. The helpline can give you details of other organisations that can help. Staff at your HIV clinic will also know about local support organisations.

Even if your family and friends are supportive, you may find it helpful to meet other people who are living with HIV. It may be good to talk to someone with personal experience of what it means to live with HIV who perhaps has been through similar things to you.

Several HIV organisations host groups for people to meet, talk, and provide peer support. Some people find it helpful to dip into a group when they’re feeling under pressure or dealing with a particular problem. Others use them as a source of long-term support and feel they are part of a positive community. Some groups are open to all people living with HIV, while others are only open to people from certain communities. Your HIV clinic may be able to advise you.

Some organisations also offer courses for people who have recently found out they have HIV or for people who want to learn more about living well with HIV. These are also good opportunities to meet other people who are living with HIV.

“It’s the one place where you can go, where you don’t feel like you have to talk about HIV. HIV is in the back of my mind every day, 7 days a week, but when I go to Positive Life, it doesn’t matter because we’re all HIV positive.”

Not everybody finds these courses and groups useful, so don’t think that there’s something wrong with you if you try one and it doesn’t suit you. There is nothing to stop you trying another one, or coming back at some stage in the future.

Support groups have strict rules about confidentiality, so you shouldn’t have to worry about people finding out that you’re going to a group or course.

On the internet, you can also get support and information from other people living with HIV. There are some specialist websites which have discussion forums and which aim to create an online community. There are other websites which will put you in touch with other people with HIV, either for dating or for friendship.

While most of the people you contact through these websites will be genuine, it’s advisable to take care when exchanging personal information or arranging to meet in person.

“Many people feel alone and isolated, they feel removed from the rest of the public, from their families, so you need to have support from other people who know how you feel... You need peers, you need people who know what you’re going through.”