A lot of professional support is available to you. In the weeks and months after your diagnosis, you might find that counselling helps you work out your reactions to having HIV. If you feel that this might be useful then ask at your clinic what counselling is available.

There are two helplines which you might find particularly useful at this time, both of which can provide basic information on HIV and are staffed by trained counsellors who will help you talk through some of your feelings.

These helplines are:

• THT Direct on 0845 122 1200.

And

• National Sexual Health Helpline on 0800 567 123

Knowing that you’re not the only person going through your experiences might also be helpful, and some people find that meeting other HIV-positive people helps them to overcome their own feelings of stigma about having HIV. Some HIV organisations have events for the recently diagnosed. Don’t feel that you have to attend a group if you’re not comfortable with the idea, and don’t think you’ve made a mistake if you’ve reacted to your diagnosis differently than somebody else has. There’s no right or wrong way to respond to finding out you have HIV – the important thing is that you start to get information and medical care so that you can stay healthy and live as long as possible.

Living with HIV should provide a useful first step.