Stress Reduction

Research suggests that high stress levels in people with HIV lead to a faster progression of the disease. Changes that occur in the body during times of stress have a draining effect on the body's immune system, making it less capable of fighting HIV. So, it is very important that stress be reduced as much as possible from the lives of people with HIV.

Various external stresses will add to the physical stress of HIV infection throughout your treatment. While it might seem difficult, these stresses can be dealt with by fairly common methods.

Some stress reduction methods include:

• Relaxation: breathing and muscle relaxation exercises.
• Guided imagery: guiding relaxation through thoughts and suggestions.
• Biofeedback: the practice of controlling usually involuntary body functions (heart rate or skin temperature) to induce relaxation.
• Problem solving: placing focus on current problems and overcoming them.