I use Lexapro 20 milligrams per day, for 18 years now. It helps me to not get episodes of sadness, from being alone once again. Owning a pet like my small dog gives me things to do, she is a conversation breaker when I'm in public. Petting and caring for your pet cat ,chickens, bird, horse or dog Etc. is very good for us and it helps to reduce stress from depression. This 10 pound Shih-Tzu helped me 100% after my Husband died 2 yrs. & 1/2 ago and all the way to this day. Peace & enjoy your Thursday tomorrow friends.

I have MADD (mixed anxiety depressive disorder). HIV and depression/anxiety do go in tandem, not just as the ARVs can alter our thought patterns with their chemicals, but also as we can encounter stigma and other negativity on a regular basis.
Thank you for highlighting this as OP and also for the link as a resource. I’m glad it helps you, it will probably help others here too.
I find this site not only supports with HIV issues but does help with depression in terms of isolation/inclusion etc, let’s keep supporting each other. I’m glad to be a part of this welcoming ‘family’.

HIV,depression and anxiety they all go hand in hand. Thank you for the link it's a wonderful resource for us who suffer from all 3 of them. People who dont suffer from them dont understand what it feels like which makes us more isolated. Here on this site I have a great team that do get and want to help you are not alone here

Hey,😊 from across the globe.. from continent to continent, we're all in this together.🌎 No matter what happens, there's always a thought out there in the universe💫..that you are loved and thought about 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️♥️.

First good morning and thank you for addressing so many points many of us need to hear! As a former counselor depression and illness go hand in hand. I used to teach patients tools to help them and only when I used them on myself did I get better. Medication never helped me with depression, though it sure does many. My thoughts are get rid of "stinking thinking" starting with our self speak, we damage ourselves by being our worst destroyer in self speak; you idiot why did you do that, why can't you do more and the so many ways we beat ourselves up. Replacing these thoughts with more positive ones, so you made a mistake it's okay just let's do it differently. Funny we treat others much better and let things slide with them but with ourselves, we let ourselves have it. Change is intentional, make the effort to treat yourself better, you above all deserve it! Just my thoughts David Bast