Text: Lungile Khumalo. Picture: Thinkstock Images. Article from the November 2013 issue of Bona Magazine.
Finding effective treatment for depression while being HIV+ can be done.
Finding out and coping with the news that you are HIV+ is not something you are ever prepared for. Even with a change in lifestyle and the correct medication, coming to grips with this can increase the burden many South African women already carry. Being a single mother, living on a tight budget, coping with violence and abuse, being the main caregiver for family members – these are some of the situations women live with on a daily basis. But being diagnosed with HIV is different. It is life threatening, it doesn’t go away and in a lot of cases it can lead to depression.
What is depression?
Feeling blue, sad, helpless, lonely and anxious are emotions we experience from time to time, but if these negative feelings are more intense, last for longer than a few weeks or stop you from living normally then you may be suffering from depression.
If you notice any of the following signs, make sure to mention them to your healthcare worker. Symptoms to look out for:
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Irritability (easily annoyed)
- Lack of interest in activities that usually interest you
- No interest in sex
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Fatigue
- Thoughts of harming oneself or committing suicide
- Unable to concentrate
- Feeling guilty, worthless or hopeless
- Overeating
Feeling depressed is normal if you’re HIV+ as this is a very stressful time of your life. You may be fearful of what the future holds and how being HIV+ will affect your family, your job security, your friends and the possibility that the medication will make you sicker before you feel any better.
‘I don’t care attitude’
It is common for HIV+ women suffering from depression to adopt an ‘I don’t care attitude’ – like not caring about how you look and your personal hygiene, not eating properly, taking time off from work for no reason, isolating yourself from friends, and turning to alcohol or using other drugs to try and lift your mood. Sadly, this attitude can also result in high-risk behaviour where a woman simply doesn’t care about the dangers of transmitting the infection to other people.
The biggest health concern is not following through with HIV appointments and not taking ARVs regularly. Both of which can lead to a more rapid progression of the disease. When you upset your ARV routine by not taking your medication, taking the incorrect dosage or taking your medication at the wrong time, you run the risk of the drugs not working. The result is the ARVs will not effectively fight the virus, your CD4 cell count will drop, and your viral load will go up – which can all have a damaging effect on your health and possibly shorten your life.
Take action
The good news is that even though depression is a normal and common consequence of being HIV+, it is a completely separate condition and can be treated. Getting help and treatment for depression will make you feel as though you are in control of your situation and will improve your overall health.
The first step is to discuss your depression with your healthcare worker or clinic doctor who will recommend who you should see about treatment – usually a clinic social worker, psychiatrist or psychologist – who can work closely with your healthcare worker who manages your HIV treatment. This is very important as treatment for depression can often mean taking anti-depressants, which could interfere with your HIV medication. Lifestyle changes can also help like getting regular exercise, adopting a better sleeping pattern, eating better, enjoying the outdoors and fresh air more often, seeking counselling, and managing stress.
Lastly, treating depression requires patience on your part as it can take weeks, sometimes months, until you feel better about yourself. The bottom line is, there is no need to suffer from depression – effective treatment is available.
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