Being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS can be lonely road. Carrying the weight of having HIV/AIDS is not something that you have to do alone. Support groups are in place to assist you with the daily chore of living with this virus.

What can I hope to accomplish in support groups?

That is an excellent question. You get to hear stories from people who have been where you are at. You get to see for yourself that it is possible to live a healthy and normal life with this disease. You can her stories of victories and defeat. You can hear for yourself that not everyday is going to be a march in the rainbow but you can get through them. There will be people who represent each crossroad that you may have found or currently find or are going to find yourself at. They can share with you how they got through it. You will hear many stories and may just find one that give you the answers you are searching for.

Support groups provide you with a safe place to express your feelings and concerns. If you don't have a personal support system in place, you can find individuals that are willing to support you through difficult transitions. The benefit of building a support system from support groups is that these individuals understand the struggle that you are currently facing. These individuals have been what you are going through and more. Many have lived for 10, 15 to 20 years with the disease. It is a place where you can find hope. It is a place where you can share with out judgment or condemnation.

Many health clinics offer support groups dedicated to those who have the virus. You an also inquire about support groups at churches, doctor's offices or online. Search engines are a wonderful place to search for support groups in your area.

The key to fighting HIV/AIDS is education. Support groups are a great place to get informed. You can glean information from the people in the group or the moderator. There may be classes available at some. You never know until you search them out.

So if you find yourself feeling alone in this fight, reach up and reach out today and find a support group near you. Always remember, you are not alone.

Be aware....Stay Educated....Stay ALIVE!!!