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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 41-45 >> Interview 02 >> How he deals with his anxiety about his health.

Now on efavirenz and Combivir, his viral load is undetectable. He has suffered few side-effects. He had counseling to help him cope, and looks forward to getting back to work.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 14 >> Explains that when things seem terrible things do tend to get better.

He believes dealing with multiple difficulties in his life like HIV has made him stronger. He takes Fosamprenavir, Ritonavir, Tenofovir and Emtricitabine (6 tablets once in the evening) with few side effects.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 13 >> Had panic attacks and became suicidal when taking anti-HIV drugs.

He currently takes 4 antivirals (AZT, atazanavir, ritonavir, tenofovir) after suffering severe side effects from other combinations. His viral load was low and he attributes his good health to taking responsibility for his own wellbeing.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 01 >> He cannot feel good about himself when he faces so many problems.

A long term survivor who has done a considerable amount of voluntary work in Aids, uses complementary health approaches, and is concerned about HIV discrimination and stigma.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 04 >> It was not until he talked to a psychiatrist that he could consider his drug use as anything other than normal.

He was taking saquinavir, ritonavir, tenofovir, and ddI with few side effects. He was also taking Prozac for depression. He had an undetectable viral load. Counselling has helped him to cope.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 23 >> Prayer helped him to overcome the negative conversations he has with himself. (Read by an actor.)

He was shocked when he found out he was actually infected with HIV, and he wanted to kill himself. Since his viral load has reduced to undetectable with medication (currently emtricitabine, efavirenz, tenofovir), he has felt much better physically and psychologically. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 17 >> Delaying telling people about your HIV diagnosis has benefits.

He took time to work out who to disclose to and to make treatment decisions (he currently takes Combivir and efavirenz). He initially suffered mental health side-effects (e.g. trouble sleeping, irratibility) but now has few problems with medication.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 05 >> Following on from his adoption he struggles to cope with the loss of people in his life. (Read by an actor.)

His current T cells are 600 and he is not on anti-HIV medication. He is happy to be alive now, does voluntary work (non-HIV) and training courses. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 49 >> Being so young he felt that older people with HIV did not understand him.

Clint progressed to Aids defining illnesses relatively quickly. Fortunately, combination therapy had come in by then, and his original combination (Combivir, efavirenz and nelfinavir) is still effective today.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 56-65 >> Interview 29 >> Being a senior teacher was very stressful, his health suffered and he had a 'breakdown'.

He currently takes Kaletra, tenofovir, 3TC and has an undetectable viral load. He has suffered from painful peripheral neuropathy and uses visualisation and meditation to control the pain.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 27 >> He thinks he became infected with HIV at a time when he was having emotional problems. (Read by an actor.)

He currently has a viral load of about 160,000 and 360 CD cells, and has not yet begun anti-HIV medication. His diagnosis has been a catalyst in facing up to many issues in his life. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 28 >> He does not know anymore what it means to feel physically or mentally normal.

He currently has an undetectable viral load and about 900 CD4 cells. He did not respond well to earlier regimes, but is now doing well on 'salvage therapy,' although his medication has numerous side-effects.

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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Coping with mental health problems >> Coping with mental health problems

Coping with mental health problems