Real Stories

An interview with Shahram, who is living positively:

Name: Shahram, Age: 30

When you got acknowledged that you’re infected?
1 year ago

How did you get it?
I went to hospital to rehab drug addiction, in the hospital I made many tests, one of them was HIV test, so they told me I’m positive.


Did you have a counsel before they tell you the result of test?
No. they didn’t talk to me about it before telling the result. They told the result directly to myself. Of course I had made a HIV test before, in a private laboratory, and they had told me that I may be HIV-positive. So, I had a little readiness in my mind to hear this answer, but I can't describe my emotions at that time.

How did you feel when you got that you're HIV- positive?
I was extremely shocked, and I couldn’t believe it at first.

What about your family?
Their feelings were as mine.

What ideas came to your mind, after you got out of shock?
I was disappointed. I had decided to continue using drugs, but the advisors told me that doing this, not only won't help me, but also helps the viruses get activated. They told me I can live with HIV and I accepted to abnegate the addiction and to start a new life with HIV.

Who first got this matter in your family?
My mother. When I went to laboratory to get the result, she was with me.

Did their behavior changed to you?
No. they accepted this fact very soon.

What did you do, if the time went past?
I would have a new and better attitude to the world. I'd never do what I've done that eventuated infection to HIV. Especially my risky behaviors and addiction that was the reason of all of the problems in my life.

What's your advice to your friends?
Be aware about their behaviors. Never let addiction to ruin their life. HIV is near you and if you don’t care, you'd be like me.