Mental health articles

AIDS can affect mental health in many ways.
• Pain. Many diseases associated with AIDS cause severe pain.
Pain, in turn, can make a person miserable.
• Disability. People who feel so weak and tired that they are
unable to function at work or at home can feel helpless and
angry.
• Fear of dying. The person may be scared of death. She may be
worried for the future of her family, particularly her spouse,
who may also be infected.
• Expense. The medicines for HIV infection are very expensive;
most families cannot afford them and those that can must
bear considerable financial hardship.

• Resentment of others in the family. People who cannot contribute to the family and, instead, need
constant help and support may be seen as a burden. The spouse may be angry that the person has been sexually unfaithful and brought the disease on himself and exposed her to the disease
too.
• Stigma and discrimination. There is much misunderstanding of HIV infection and discrimination against those infected.
• Direct involvement of the brain. The brain can be affected by HIV or other diseases such as dementia. This can lead to seizures and severe mental disorders.

Tags: aids, Health, mental, Mental health