Scared...

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So since many of you I assume are sexually active, how many of you have periods (ladies no pun intended) where you start to freak out about being sick. And I mean sick like fearing to have some STD or being HIV positive. Like when you see that your body easily gives in to colds or you got some bump in your groin area. I'll admit that sometimes i go through periods like these and then I get tested and i'm ok. I then realize i was being a little over dramatic. But everytime I go to get tested i honestly fear the worse. It's like you prepare yourself mentally to deal with the fact that you might just be HIV positive or have some permament STD.
I mean you do your best to be responsible when you have sex, right?! But then there are moments when you just give in to bad temptations. ;(

How about you guys?
 

Wrey

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Ok, just to clear something up....

You mentioned getting tested in a manner that I often hear and concerns me deeply.

I often hear people talking about getting tested for HIV using a frame of speach that makes it sound as if getting tested is a way to AVOID getting HIV. I realise that this is not what is meant, but our word choices can often give insight to our inner workings.

Getting tested does not mean you won't contract HIV or other STDs....

With that said....

I think everyone feels this way at sometime or other. A moment of letting our guard down and participating in behavior that is risky is going to warrent some worry.
 
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I often hear people talking about getting tested for HIV using a frame of speach that makes it sound as if getting tested is a way to AVOID getting HIV. I realise that this is not what is meant, but our word choices can often give insight to our inner workings.

.
yeah sometimes i have a way of writing words that can be easily misinterpreted. Of course I didn't mean that getting tested is a way to avoid HIV. lol
 

jason_els

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I think it's best to get tested routinely on a set schedule or any time that you believe risky sex has occured. Combine this with routinely using condoms and common sense, and you should have peace of mind.

The question to ask yourself is, "Are my fears unreasonable?" Well, if you've just been tested and taken precautions, then perhaps they are. In that case you may want to consider seeing your doctor for some anti-anxiety medications or start practicing anti-anxiety behaviors like meditation or yoga. I have the same bouts you do. I rush to the doctor convinced I'm not long for the world when I see, in hindsight, my fears were unreasonable. Manifestations of these kinds of anxieties generally indicate other stressors in your life that may have nothing to do with direct risks to your health. Has your job become more stressful? Have you been having family or personal relationship problems? Do you find your day so filled with responsibilities that you can't manage them all? Are you sleeping fully and normally?

All these can manifest themselves in sporadic hypochondria. Look very carefully for these kinds of stressors because your mind is essentially telling you that you're overlooking a stress factor that needs relief and either you haven't noticed or haven't dealt with it.
 

jason_els

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yeah well i do work 7 days a week holding 2 jobs and some nights during the week i record so.....

Maybe that can be it.

Ya think :wink:?

Hell yeah man, you need some relief. What you can't do is ignore it because this kind of thing is a type of panic attack and it can get worse if it goes untreated. Definitely see your doctor or a psychiatrist who can prescribe something for you and perhaps refer you to a stress-management behaviorist. Good ones can go a long way to helping you deal with stress and make your life more fulfilling. Something has to give and unless the pattern changes in your life, no vacation will fix it either.