What HIV-positive youth say about feeling different from other youth

“I guess people don’t want to be around you because they think you are queer, or you do injections, or they’ll catch it or something.”

“My mom died a couple years ago from HIV and I feel like I’m different because not only do I not have my mom anymore, but she was the only one I talked to. I feel alone a lot”

“All my friends are talking about saving for school, cars and houses. I feel like I am in a totally different place. I can hardly think beyond tomorrow!”

“Sometimes I feel like no one knows me because I have something that, you know, other people don’t think about. So I feel different from my friends. I’m really conscious about what I say, you know.”

“It doesn’t matter what other people tell me, I know that people would look at me differently if I told them (I was HIV positive). So, I try and be who I used to be—or how people thought I was. You know, my culture has certain things that it expects and I can’t really get away from that. It’s hard to try to fit into something that you are not.”

You are not alone! Feeling alone, angry, afraid, depressed and having difficulty talking to people about your feelings are things that a lot of us have to deal with. If you want to talk to other HIV-positive youth in Canada, check out the Message Board. [Check out Positive Heroes to read about some young people who are HIV who have inspiring stories about their life].