Blog #12

This week I have been swamped with work and school. It appears to me that each week just gets worse and worse, but I know that soon I will see a light at the end of the tunnel. I am just trying to make sure I stay on top of things and get everything done, to finish this semester off strong. I have learned a lot from my HIV class this semester and I feel that I have learned so much more about the disease since I got into this class. At the same time, that is the point, to learn what you did not know before and cover what you did already learn about the disease.

I can not wait until the summer arrives so that I can be one step closer to graduating. I have been in college since 2008, so it has been a long and exhausting three years so far, and I am ready to receive my degree in which I have worked so hard for. I also am excited about the summer time because I will get to relax and I will celebrate my 21st birthday. I am very anxious and that is why I try not to stress over the things that are happening in my life now, because I know that it is only temporary and that joy will come in the morning.

DID YOU KNOW???
Homosexuals with HIV do not differ much from heterosexuals living with HIV. This has been something that many people find it hard to believe, but in reality is true. However, it has been noted that "Homosexuals also have a higher risk for anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and sleep disorders, as well as certain types of cancer. Gay men who are younger than 30 years of age are at increased risk for serious psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, general anxiety disorder), including suicidal behavior". Although heterosexuals can experience the same symptoms, the homosexual community are placed at a higher risk, which makes you think.

Homosexuality Concerns & Issues - Homosexuality - Sexual Health Channel. (n.d.).Your Sexual Health Community - Sexual Health Channel. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from http://sexualhealth.healthcommu

Blog #11

This week has been very difficult and stressful for me. I have dealt with many things since last week and I am trying to cope with everything that has happened. The bad part about it is that I feel that it is all happening at the wrong time, because this is the last month of school and all of my attention and focus needs to be on my academics. Even though things are going bad right now for me, I will make the best out of a bad outcome. I know all things happen for a reason, so the only thing I can do right now is to deal with the storm and have faith that the sun will shine soon.

Also, my friend is now dealing with the loss of her mother due to AIDS. It breaks my heart to see that she has to go through this, especially in college where she is no where near her family. I have tried to be the best support system for her through this time. Although I am going to always be there for her, I can only envision the pain she must be going through. There is nothing like losing your mother. However, I could not help but share with her information that I have learned from this class. To my surprise, she knew just as much as I did, but then again she learned through experience, whereas I learned through assignments.

DID YOU KNOW????


"In 2005, over half of new HIV infections diagnosed in the US were among gay men, and up to one in five gay men living in cities is thought to be HIV positive. Yet two large population surveys showed that most gay men had similar numbers of unprotected sexual partners per year as straight men and women".

"US researchers applied a series of carefully calculated equations in different scenarios to study the rate at which HIV infection has spread among gay men and straight men and women. They used figures taken from two national surveys to estimate how many sex partners gay men and straight men and women have, and what proportion of gay men have insertive or receptive anal sex, or both".

"They then set these figures against accepted estimates of how easily HIV is transmitted by vaginal and anal sex to calculate the size of the HIV epidemic in gay men and straight men and women".


"Different HIV Rates Among Homosexuals And Heterosexuals Ignores Risky Behavior Data." Science 2.0 - ® The world's best scientists, the Internet's smartest readers.. N.p., 23 Sept. 2007. Web. 6 Apr. 2011. <http://www.science20.com/news_