In the early and mid-1980s the general opinion on treatment and survival
options for HIV/AIDS were often bleak. The available medical protocols were
often highly toxic, suspect, or lost efficacy as the virus became resistant.
With the advent of current effective prophylactic and anti-retroviral therapies
such as protease inhibitors, people with HIV/AIDS are living longer, more
productive lives; often experiencing dramatic reductions in viral loads, and
significant increases in T-cells. Now, more than ever, it’s important for
people managing HIV disease to pay close attention to factors which support and
enhance whatever treatment options they pursue. Holistic health care and
complimentary therapies have been quietly helping to preserve the health of
people with HIV/AIDS. The goal of holistic health care is to create a sense of
wellness: a state of being, or a state of mind in which people are in harmony
with themselves, their environment and their bodies. Many people are familiar
with holistic therapies like acupuncture, massage and chiropractic care, but
what often goes unsaid are the basic ideas behind holistic care: the factors
that drive human behavior.
Wellness is a choice we make to abandon high-risk and/or
self-destructive behaviors, and to adopt lifestyle habits which nurture and
enhance our lives. These choices can include moderating or giving up alcohol
and/or tobacco, changing our nutritional habits, or incorporating physical
conditioning activities into our lives. Wellness is a personal
responsibility. Making rational, well-informed choices becomes our
responsibility, not that of an entity, such as a physician, agency, friends or
family. When we allow someone or something else to take responsibility for our
lives, we lose our power to choose. Wellness is a commitment which
enables us to continue despite any setbacks we may encounter. Making a
commitment to wellness is a conscious decision to do something different.
Wellness is a process; it’s not something that happens all at once. It
unfolds, develops, and changes as we progress to each new level. It is the
natural order of things. The process requires that we be willing and flexible
to modify our beliefs or behaviors as our life changes. The end-point of goals
become progress, not perfection.
At the HIV Wellness Center, the mission is to create community partnerships to
preserve the health of people living with HIV through education and holistic
health care. If you, or someone you love, is HIV+ and interested in learning
more about how a personal wellness plan can effectively manage HIV/AIDS, call
HWC at 467-0088.
This article appears in July 26 • 1996 and July 26 • 1996 (Cover).