Back in the mid-80s when I was diagnosed HIV positive, the condition was considered to be 100% fatal. Within the gay community there was an overwhelming sense of panic. Many of us hid behind drug use and compulsive behavior as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with this horrible situation. Some refused to get tested and lived lives of fear and uncertainty about the potential ticking time bomb inside them. I decided to face the reality of my situation, and I’m so glad I did.
I was faced with a choice of giving into my disease or try to do everything in my power to come to terms with and rise above it. While many others in my situation succumbed to fears of their imminent demise by partying their way out, quitting their jobs, going on disability, and spending their final days as helpless victims, I resolved to fight this terminal diagnosis. I researched countless articles and journals, consulted with a variety of western, oriental, and alternative medical practitioners, and experimented with several approaches to keep this retrovirus from taking over my body. I tried out a host of regimens including strict diets, nutritional supplements, acupuncture, and Chinese herbs. I enrolled in courses and steeped myself in healing energy modalities such as Reiki, yoga, meditation, and positive mind control. Like a detective, I followed every clue to help me find the pieces of the puzzle to maintain my physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Now almost 40 years later, after a gradual descent into severe immune dysfunction, I rebounded and am in good health. I credit this survival to the combination of getting an early diagnosis and using every tool and strategy to delay the onset of serious disease until the Western medical community was able to come up with effective HIV/AIDS treatments in the late 90s. Also, I changed regimens as conditions and medical opportunities arose, not staying with any one treatment when it outlived its period of effectiveness. I encourage anyone who is dealing with this or any other life-threatening condition to learn from my example. By balancing traditional and alternative medical approaches and combining this with a positive attitude and spiritual assistance, it is amazing what one can accomplish.
A more detailed elaboration of many of my trials and triumphs can be found in my thinly-veiled memoir, a semi-fictionalized account of these events, THE LONGER ROAD HOME. https://www.amazon.com/Longer-Road-Home-Modern-Day-Self-Help/dp/0989939030
DAVID CAT COHEN In Recovery blogs 