Chicago, IL -
The September/October issue of Positively Aware magazine, entitled "Wellness Starts with Awareness," looks at many of the issues related to maintaining wellness in light of life with HIV. Featured on the cover is Madison, Wisconsin HIV treatment advocate Bob Bowers, who has been living with HIV for more than 20 years. Bowers organizes an annual high-school poster contest to raise awareness, in which students answer the question: "What if it were you?"
"It's all peer-driven and grassroots - and I pride myself in keeping it that way," said Bowers, whose organization doesn't accept any federal or state funding because of the limitations put on what one can actually say and do when it comes to HIV prevention and education.
Also included in this issue is a "Wellness Checklist" compiled by renowned HIV physician Joel Gallant of Johns Hopkins University, which lists some of the important things to consider when you're HIV-positive. "Maintaining wellness - or as we old-timers used to say, ‘staying healthy' - involves collaboration between you and your healthcare provider," says Dr. Gallant. "The process is far too complex to be reduced to a simple checklist, but there are some objective things you can do to help optimize your health, including lab testing and vaccinations."
Other topics covered include an in-depth look at the science of heroin addiction and the "madness" of a system that often looks down on methadone treatment; a spotlight on two organizations that promote wellness with HIV in their own unique way - the Houston Buyers Club and Nightsweats and T-cells; and an illustration of the importance of the healing power of relationships, courage and humor in the face of HIV by psychotherapist Jeff Levy.
Positively Aware is an internationally known and respected magazine devoted to HIV treatment and health. It has a circulation of 85,000, and is published bimonthly by Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN).
For more information, visit www.tpan.com.
"It's all peer-driven and grassroots - and I pride myself in keeping it that way," said Bowers, whose organization doesn't accept any federal or state funding because of the limitations put on what one can actually say and do when it comes to HIV prevention and education.
Also included in this issue is a "Wellness Checklist" compiled by renowned HIV physician Joel Gallant of Johns Hopkins University, which lists some of the important things to consider when you're HIV-positive. "Maintaining wellness - or as we old-timers used to say, ‘staying healthy' - involves collaboration between you and your healthcare provider," says Dr. Gallant. "The process is far too complex to be reduced to a simple checklist, but there are some objective things you can do to help optimize your health, including lab testing and vaccinations."
Other topics covered include an in-depth look at the science of heroin addiction and the "madness" of a system that often looks down on methadone treatment; a spotlight on two organizations that promote wellness with HIV in their own unique way - the Houston Buyers Club and Nightsweats and T-cells; and an illustration of the importance of the healing power of relationships, courage and humor in the face of HIV by psychotherapist Jeff Levy.
Positively Aware is an internationally known and respected magazine devoted to HIV treatment and health. It has a circulation of 85,000, and is published bimonthly by Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN).
For more information, visit www.tpan.com.
