Who Woulda Thought?

Although it might seem unfathomable, being diagnosed with HIV infection has improved the lives of some Americans, according to a survey by researchers in Cincinnati. Nearly one third of 449 HIV-positive people interviewed said their lives got better after receiving a positive HIV antibody test, compared with 29% who said their lives became worse. The researchers say many upbeat survey respondents noted that they stopped taking things like a sunny day for granted and stopped worrying about financial problems or other situations they once fretted over. The percentage claiming that their lives got better remained about the same regardless of the stage of HIV disease or whether AIDS-related complications were present. Timothy Critzer, author of I Just Found Out I Have HIV'Now What? counts himself among those whose lives improved after they were diagnosed with HIV. 'I know it sounds insane, but you deal with issues you held on to your whole life, and you end up in a better place,' he explains. 'Like anything else in life, this is something you can live with in the same way you lived your life before, or you can make your life better by letting go of a lot of stuff. HIV kicked me in the butt and got me moving in so many different ways.'