I just found out my Father has HIV. I feel bad that I'm slightly afraid of being near him, what should I do?

My Father was always there for us as kids and he split with my Mom when I was 17. He owned his own construction company and all but ended up living on the streets after leaving us. When he decided he didn't want to live he tried to OD on Heroin and used someone elses needle and contracted HIV. When he told me, I didn't know how to feel or who to turn to. Are there any support groups or resources that can help me feel comfortable with this fact?

Well the number one support group needed here is YOU and your family for you father. He is still the same person he was before he contracted HIV. The only difference is now he REALLY needs your help to get through it. Show that you can be there for him in times of need the same way he was there for you. Help to erase the stigmas surrounding HIV by helping him. The last thing anyone with that horrible disease needs is to have their own family be intimidated by them. Just be there! :D

call the local unite way and ask....or go to your minister...or call the local hospital and get in touch with center for disease control and ask for help omn understanding this disease they can give you direction

There are LOTS of support groups out there for HIV/AIDS. Just do a google for your neighborhood. You should think of your father's disease as a long time illness like diabetes rather than HIV. Just avoid coming into contact with his blood.

visit a psychologist

just talk to him and tell him how u feel and just have fun with him like go out to a movie and hang out all day.

i think u should accept that your father has HIV and encourage your father to live and take treatment tell him u love him and care tell him that u will always be there for him and show it and remember when a person has HIV is doesn't make them different thats all that u have to accept. you don't need a support group all u need is to accept that your father has HIV. and it doesn't make him different

Start by recognizing the fact that your fear is natural.
Then educate yourself. The more you know about it, the less fearful you will be.

For right now, did you know that being HIV positive is different from having full blown Aids? Did you know that people with HIV can live normal, productive lives if they get proper treatment?

Start your reading here:
http://www.medicinenet.com/human_immunod...

My thoughts and prayers go out for you and your father.

Do not be afraid from being near him. Do not worry, you can share his life, have you taken poper means.

I advice you to give him emotional support, it's very important for HIV patients -- but speaking about the possibility of HIV transmission, I'd say.. just do not share sharp things, things that would cause a cut. Strong hugs or kissing is not needed too, but sharing the normal, every day life.. would be ok, there is no harm in that.

Still worried, please call a local center for HIV information.

But I repeat, emotional support is top priority for him.

Just realize first that your parent loves you and wouldn't do anything to pass the disease to you. He probably knows alot about his condition and knows how he can give it to someone and how he can't. I would advise you to read up on it too and even sit down to talk to him about it so you and him can be more comfortable with it.

Thanks to advances in medications, most people with HIV will lead a normal length life and mhe may not even need drugs for years. Basically, his having HIV is no different to having him having diabetes- would you feel awkward being near him then?

HIV is MUCH harder to contract than you think, you can keep doing all the stuff you did before together without even the slightest risk of contracting it. Ignore what the person said above about strong hugging and kissing, there is NO RISK from those activities whatsoever. To put it into perspective (talking about things you would never do with your father), there have only been a few anecdotal cases of HIV being passed on through oral sex, so your likelihood of catching it through a kiss, unless blood is pouring from his mouth and you have an open wound on your cheek, is nil. Even if his dad cuts himself accidently on a sharp object and then that sharp object breaks your skin, the risk of a so-called "needlestick" injury is a mere 0.3% of contracting HIV.Treat him just as you have always treated him.

It is always alarming when you find out a parent is ill (my mother was diagnosed with cancer a few months ago) and it takes a little time to get used to (especially in the first few days) but after that you will realise your dad is just the same and most likely will be around for years to come. Just think how lucky you are he didn't manage to suceed with his heroin overdose!