HIV and mental health: When you lose yourself

What do you know about a human immunodeficiency virus? I believe, despite a huge informational campaign of the past few decades, many of us still believe that HIV infection is another name for AIDS, a deadly disease spread commonly in key populations. It ruins the immune system of human bodies leading to opportunistic diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, various mycotic infections, etc. However, this is not quite right.

First of all, HIV infection is not deadly anymore, and AIDS is its third, mostly lethal, stage. Secondly, anyone can be infected, whether they belong to KPs or not. And last but not least — HIV can be a reason for various mental ailments. People who live with this virus are more prone to mood disorders, cognitive dysfunctions, depression, etc.

The research shows that around 4%-15% of all HIV patients complain about their cognitive abilities or mood swings. Even though the percentage is high and illnesses sound serious, most of them are completely curable. In this article, I would like to tell you how to find the right approach to treat different kinds of mental disorders related to HIV.

Reasons for Mental Health Problems

So, what is the correlation between HIV and mental health? Despite the fact that it is a human immunodeficiency virus, it can attack our brain, memory, mood, cognitive capacities, and so forth. I’ll show you the ways it affects our intellect and emotions:

• HIV-induced encephalopathy. The virus attacks the brain cells and causes serious damage to our central nervous system. Without proper treatment, it leads to serious cognitive impairments known as AIDS dementia;
• opportunistic infections, such as cryptococcus and tuberculosis, can target the brain, too. HIV infected people often suffer from meningitis and CNS inflammations. The symptoms of HIV meningitis vary depending on the nature of the illness, however, they include such conditions as confusion, headache, blurred vision, tiredness, etc. Both HIV-associated meningitis and encephalopathy are more common in patients with the weakened immune system at the advanced stages of HIV infection. The statistics say that in the USA 10.5 per 1000 patients with HIV develop dementia every year, which is more than twice less than it’s been before the invention of HAART;
• mood swings, anxiety, and depression are not the result of the virus itself, but they are closely related to it. Some ART pills have these conditions among their side effects. In addition, living with a chronic disease can be frustrating, especially when it is as stigmatized and discriminated against as HIV/AIDS. It is hard to share your problem with your friends and relatives, people have to hide their pills, lie about regular visits to a doctor; they are afraid of isolation, losing their jobs and families, etc.

The bad thing with the emotional disorders is that you can hardly diagnose them yourself. Pay attention if you:

• have a nervous breakdown;
• feel more tired, restless, sad, or apathetic than usual;
• cannot concentrate on everyday activities;
• cannot perform normally at work and home;
• overeat or have no appetite;
• experience troubles with making decisions;
• forget simple things;
• suffer from insomnia or excessive sleepiness;
• have suicidal thoughts, feel helpless and lonely.

Luckily, there are highly active antiretroviral drugs (a.k.a. ARVs) that help HIV patients keep their immune system effective, and the informational campaigns all over the world combat stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Ways to Improve Mental State When Living with HIV

I divide neurocognitive disorders associated with HIV into three types:

• asymptomatic, when a patient does not see any changes, however, some special tests can detect poor cognition and emotional problems;
• mild ND;
• and HIV dementia, the most severe one.

No matter what type of the malady you have and where it stems from, there are ways to improve your mental wellbeing.

Reach Out to Healthcare Professional

First of all, you should ask for professional help. After some tests and consultations, your doctor will make a decision on what treatment you need:

• if you have low CD4 count, you’ll start using ART or change your ART regime;
• in case your emotional maladies are a negative impact of your pills, the doctor will choose some other drugs for you;
• maybe, you’ll have to talk to a therapist, psychologist, or even psychiatrist. Do not try to cope with serious mental diseases yourself, especially avoid taking antidepressants without a doctor’s advice. Some of them interact with ART.

Don’t be afraid of sharing all your problems and concerns with a healthcare professional. In this case, honesty is the only way to a healthy life.

Keep a Healthy Lifestyle

You’ll help your body and medications combat HIV if you follow three rules:

• eat healthy. It means that you have to eat enough, first of all. Do not overeat, but also do not starve for the sake of the better shape. Remember, your organism needs all necessary nutrients, so your diet should be balanced;
• sleep well. You should have enough rest at night, your body requires energy for managing the virus and medications;
• stay active. Regular visits to a gym or swimming pool will produce positive effects immediately. Choose sports that bring peace to your mind, for example, golf.

Change your behavior: practice meditation, try to quit smoking and drinking alcohol, and do not use recreational drugs.

Communicate with Family and Friends

As I’ve mentioned before, people living with HIV have difficulties with sharing their concerns and troubles with their family and friends. This is the main reason why the prevalence of depression and anxiety is so high in such patients. Try to open your life to your loved ones, despite all fears to upset them or be abandoned.

However, you have to be very careful with that. People who’ve never heard of HIV/AIDS and do not have enough information may not accept you with your diagnose at once. Find a person you trust completely, and he or she can become the greatest source of support and a positive attitude to life.

Support Groups are Key

In case there is no such person around you, or you’ve tried and failed to find understanding and help in your friends and family, you should try support groups. Sometimes, it is even easier to talk about very private things with strangers, especially if those strangers have similar problems. You can find groups that connect people with HIV or mental ailments on the net and share your experience with someone who understands you.

Few Last Thoughts

The importance of emotional and mental wellbeing is high for every person, regardless of whether they have or have not HIV. Nonetheless, people who have to deal with the virus every day, take pills, cope with the stigma and discrimination, worry about their confidentiality, etc. — these people need a clear and peaceful mind more than others. This is why if you are HIV positive, you should talk to your doctor and do all you can to keep your brain healthy.