HIV Dating - Disclosing Your Status

Disclosing Your Status to Potential Partners When You're HIV Positive

It is no exaggeration to say that HIV can turn your life upside down within an instant. It is hard to think of any aspect of your life that this virus does not affect. However, once the emotional turmoil of finding out that you are HIV positive settles down you'll need to think of getting your life back in order, and this includes love and companionship. HIV dating is a very difficult area to navigate through, but you'll need to do this in order to have a happy life.

Most HIV positive singles are faced with the fear of rejection and are therefore afraid of disclosing their status to potential partners. There are many HIV dating sites where you can meet lots of positive singles and you won't have a problem finding acceptance from people here. However, love and attraction can strike irrespective of your HIV status.

If you have a non-HIV potential partner you certainly have to disclose things and not just because you are legally required to so depending on which part of the United States you live in. If you are planning to have a long term relationship with a person then you certainly should come clean with that person about your status. One thing you could do is go on a few dates to see if the relationship is even worth pursuing. If you feel that the person is someone you could have a future with and is also very open minded then you could broach the subject.

Make sure that you don't have sex with a potential partner before you disclose your HIV status because this will be an unforgivable breach of trust. Keep lots of information handy about how HIV positive dating doesn't have to be unsafe and how people with this virus can lead long and relatively trouble free lives. If you make a disclosure after a few dates you could also limit the number of people who get to know about your disease. Once the person agrees to go out with you, you could also schedule a meeting with a doctor of healthcare provider who could explain to your partner what the risks are.

The other option is to tell a potential partner right at the first date. Of course, you then have to deal with the risk of getting rejected immediately. If you live in a small community then word might also get around about your HIV status depending on how indiscreet the other people are. If however the attraction and compatibility are great then the person might even appreciate your honesty and want to give HIV dating a try.

You will have to be prepared for occasional emotional outbursts from your HIV negative partner in which case a therapist's help will be immensely helpful for the both of you. You need to realize that acceptance of HIV dating is an ongoing process and you will have to put in a lot of effort in order to make your relationship work.

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