POZitive Attitudes

This Wednesday 04-25-2012 the topic is bereavement.

We have lost two close friends of many members of the group and discussing loss, grief and bereavement is a timely topic.

I’m going to base the topic on this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief

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This Wednesday 04-25-2012 the topic is bereavement.

We have lost two close friends of many members of the group and discussing loss, grief and bereavement is a timely topic.

I’m going to base the topic on this article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grief

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This Wednesday 04-11-2012 the topic is an article I found in TheBody.com “What Really Fuels the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Black America”.   As concerned HIV+ Gay men, I think its important that we discuss how this disease affects other groups, not just our own.

We have been bombarded with images and media attention that have blamed the “down-low brotha” — the closeted gay man who sleeps with both men and women — for the HIV epidemic in black America.

Meanwhile, numerous studies have debunked those claims.

Yes, there are closeted gay black men, but the reality is that so much more is at play when it comes to why African Americans account for only 14 percent of the U.S. population but make up almost half of all newly diagnosed HIV cases each year.

Take a look at what HIV advocates from across the country say is really worsening the epidemic in the African-American community:  Read full article CLICK HERE

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This Wednesday 04-11-2012 the topic is an article I found in TheBody.com “What Really Fuels the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Black America”.   As concerned HIV+ Gay men, I think its important that we discuss how this disease affects other groups, not just our own.

We have been bombarded with images and media attention that have blamed the “down-low brotha” — the closeted gay man who sleeps with both men and women — for the HIV epidemic in black America.

Meanwhile, numerous studies have debunked those claims.

Yes, there are closeted gay black men, but the reality is that so much more is at play when it comes to why African Americans account for only 14 percent of the U.S. population but make up almost half of all newly diagnosed HIV cases each year.

Take a look at what HIV advocates from across the country say is really worsening the epidemic in the African-American community:  Read full article CLICK HERE

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This Wednesday 04-04-2012 the topic is the Sex Survey from POZ Magazine:  CLICK HERE

March 2012: Sex Talk

Last year, a study known as HPTN 052 proved that treating HIV-positive people with an effective antiretroviral drug regimen (one that lowers their viral load to an undetectable level for at least six months) reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to HIV-negative sexual partners by 96 percent. We’d like our HIV-positive readers to take our confidential survey and let us know if–and how–this new scientific insight has affected your mind-set and/or sexual relations.

HPTN 052 Trial CLICK HERE

Specific questions we will discuss:

1. Are you aware that treatment can lower the risk of HIV transmission?

2. Is the idea that treatment can lower HIV transmission an incentive for going on or adhering to treatment?

3. Do the results of HPTN 052 make you worry less about transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative sexual partner?

4. Do you think that if you’re consid3ered significantly less contagious because of effective treatment then people will feel more comfortable around you?

5. Do you think that if you’re considered significantly less contagious because of effective treatment then people will be more willing to have sex with you?

6. Do the results of HPTN 052 affect whether or not you disclose your HIV status to a new sexual partner?

7. Do the results of HPTN 052 make you less likely to use a condom?

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This Wednesday 03-28-2012, the topic is “Finding Solace when Everything is Going to Hell”

Solace is a fairly abstract concept but one that we all basically understand.  Finding solace essentially means finding peace, and coming to terms with something tragic that has happened by finding comfor in a way of looking at it or from another source.

When everything seems like its gone to hell, you lost a loved one, lost your job, finances are in turmoil, broken up with a boyfriend, or having health problems, where do you turn?  How do you find solace when events like these happen?

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This Wednesday 03-28-2012, the topic is “Finding Solace when Everything is Going to Hell”

Steve

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The Wednesday 03-21-2012 we will have a guest speaker from Walgreens, George Kress.

The topic is the 3 A’s of HIV – Adherence, Aging and Assistance.

Re-inforce the necesity of adherence, treatment as prevention, the challenges of treating multiple medical conditions of those those with HIV and how it becomes more complicated with age, current surveillance data from Broward County Health Dept and a basic recap of the financial assistance programs that are available to those with or without insurance.

Refreshments will be provided.

Steve

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The Wednesday 03-21-2012 we will have a guest speaker from Walgreens, George Kress.

The topic is the 3 A’s of HIV – Adherence, Aging and Assistance.

Re-inforce the necesity of adherence, treatment as prevention, the challenges of treating multiple medical conditions of those those with HIV and how it becomes more complicated with age, current surveillance data from Broward County Health Dept and a basic recap of the financial assistance programs that are available to those with or without insurance.

Refreshments will be provided.

Steve

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The topic this Wednesday 03-14-2012 is “The Four Levels of Existence”.   This is from the book The Four Levels of Healing by Shakti Gawain.

Human life consists of four aspects: the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical levels of existence.  In order to find balance, wholeness, and fulfillment in our lives, we need to heal, develop, and integrate all four of these aspects winthin ourselves.

Our spiritual aspect is our inner essence, opur soul, the part of us that exists beyond time and space.  It connects us with the universal source and the oneness of all life.

Our mental aspect is our intellect, our ability to think and reason.   The mental level of our existence consists of our thoughts,, attitudes, beliefs, and values.  Our minds can be our greatest gift or our greatest curse.

Our emotional aspect is our ability to experience life deeply, to relate to one another and the world on a feeling level.  It’s the part of us that seeks meaningful contact and connestion with others.

Our physical aspect is, of course, our physical bodies.   It includes our ability to survive and thrive in the material world.   Developing the physical level of our being involves learning to take good care of our bodies, and to enjoy them.

Questions to consider:

1.  Do you buy into this concept?  If no, why not.  What part do you disagree with?

2.  Are there more or less levels?

3. If yes, what activity do you do for each level?

4. Which level is the most difficult for you?

5. Which level is the easiest for you?

Interview with Shakti Gawain CLICK HERE

Steve

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