Categories: HIV

The Pros and Cons of Disclosure

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Coming out with your HIV status can be daunting. Consider the potential benefits and drawbacks before you make your decision.

As a counselor, i find that disclosure of HIV status is the issue my clients struggle with most. It brings up extreme fear of being rejected by employers, potential partners, friends or family. This is with good reason: Many have faced rejection. But that doesn’t mean you should expect the worst. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of disclosing your HIV-positive status.

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Pros

The key factor to consider when thinking about disclosure is safety. If disclosure potentially threatens your housing, employment, finances or any aspect of your life, think long and hard before disclosing. If relative safety is assured, then there are many pros to disclosure:

Feeling powerful in yourself
Owning your status
Letting go of the fear
Helping to give voice to those who may not have one
Inspiring others
Learning a romantic interest may not be concerned by your status or that he or she is livingwith HIV as well
Giving your family and friends a chance to support you
Feeling loved for who you are
Being authentic in your relationships

Cons

There are many potential cons, to be sure. It’s up to each individual to figure out for yourself how likely they really are to occur:

Rejection
Anger
Violence
Disappointment
Pity
Being treated differently
Having someone violate your trust
Having someone end a relationship
Feeling you’ll be perceived as a burden

Summary
It may take you some time to decide when, where and to whom to disclose your status. Don’t feel pressured into it, but know that it can be both powerful and freeing as long as it feels right and does not endanger you.

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