Reviewer: Li Xin (Beijing Ditan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University)
Author: Zhang Wei (Beijing Ditan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University)
When it comes to the treatment of AIDS, we can all think that this is a disease that is extremely harmful to health and requires professional drug treatment or special surgical treatment. Often said “medicine” and “surgery”. But what is often overlooked is that, in addition to physical treatment, what AIDS patients most need is meticulous psychological counseling and warm comfort.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
1. What psychological problems may you experience?
For most patients, the moment they learn that they are infected with HIV, it is a huge psychological blow, and it is very likely that various psychological problems and even psychological crisis will occur. In severe cases, mental disorders may also occur, mainly manifested as depression, anxiety, revenge, and numbness. Most people experience multiple psychological problems at the same time.
The most likely symptoms are depression. Feelings of worry and fear about their own health, no hope for their own treatment, and strong fear of death. The discrimination of the people around them will make the patient suffer from insomnia, low mood, poor appetite, and even go to the extreme point of suicide.
Many people experience symptoms of anxiety. Restlessness, anorexia, and insomnia may occur. Sometimes you will suddenly feel nervous, accompanied by physical symptoms such as panic, difficulty breathing, frequent urination, urgency, sweating, and irritability. Sometimes I feel unbearable about everything and panic, like a catastrophe is imminent. This is called a “panic attack” in the medical field.
Patients experience revenge. When they learn that they have been infected by HIV, they will feel that they have been victimized, they will be very angry, they will resent the unfairness of God, and they will even hate the whole society, which will lead to the psychology of revenge on the society, such as intentionally donating blood and putting needles stained with their own blood. Or place knives where others may be injured, etc. There are also many reports in the news, despite the fact that these methods are very difficult to infect others with HIV.
In the advanced stage of the disease, patients may show indifference or even numbness to the phenomenon of HIV infection, are unwilling to change their existing lifestyle, and may treat life negatively, and non-cooperation with treatment.
Image source: Zhanku Hailuo
These mentalities that are incomprehensible to healthy people are very easy to appear in the hearts of AIDS patients. Patients should face up to these mentalities, while healthy people should give AIDS patients more humanistic care.
2. How to self-regulate?
Efforts should be made to face reality and accept that you are HIV-infected.
Be aware that AIDS is no longer a terminal illness, but has become a chronic disease. Like diabetes and high blood pressure, it requires long-term use of antiviral drugs to control the disease and survive for a long time. The World Health Organization predicts that AIDS will be conquered by 2030.
Work hard to maintain a positive and optimistic mood, believe in science, believe in doctors, believe in your own strength, and believe in your ability to control your own survival time. In my country, the number of AIDS patients shows a slight upward trend, but the number of people who care about AIDS patients is increasing greatly, and more and more people give AIDS patients more understanding and care. Therefore, we should learn to treat HIV correctly, and learn to enjoy life and live with HIV.
If you feel that you can’t get rid of your negative emotions, you should actively seek help from professionals and related social organizations, such as psychiatrists, HIV-infected people with a healthy mind, etc., instead of avoiding or denying your own psychological question.
3. What should caregivers be aware of?
As a caregiver of an AIDS patient, in addition to life care, you should also pay attention to the patient’s emotional health. Because everyone’s emotional needs are different, no one-size-fits-all approach works for everyone.
Encouraging the patient to make decisions related to their care and medical care, and encouraging the patient to actively participate in his or her treatment decisions will give the patient a sense of control and independence over their own destiny .
Do not avoid patients. People with AIDS, like everyone else, experience anger, frustration, and other negative emotions. Realize that these reactions are not directed at you, but are caused by the disease. Be patient with them and be tolerant.
Don’t be afraid to discuss his or her condition with the patient. In fact, AIDS patients need to talk often and hope that someone will listen.
Don’t be afraid to be in physical contact with the patient, shaking hands, hugging, etc., will be a great encouragement to the patient and help him or her to establish a positive and optimistic mood.
Photo source: Zhanku Hailuo
*The content of this article is for the popularization of health knowledge. It cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor can it replace the face-to-face consultation of a licensed physician. It is for reference only.
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