Prison Voices Work Book

In her narrative, Rebecca offers advice to people diagnosed with HIV. This advice is probably also useful to people experiencing difficult times in their lives.

If you are reading this and you are suffering inside because you have recently been diagnosed with HIV, this is my message to you: You need to deal with your emotions. Sometimes it will feel like they are hitting you all at once, but every pain heals in time. Don’t numb your feelings with drugs, or isolate yourself, or shut yourself down. Reach out to someone you can confide in; let yourself go through every step of the grieving process. In the end, you will have a better handle on your thoughts and yourself.

If you are reading this and you are suffering inside because you have recently been diagnosed
with HIV, this is my message to you: You need to deal with your emotions. Sometimes it will feel
like they are hitting you all at once, but every pain heals in time. Don’t numb your feelings with
drugs, or isolate yourself, or shut yourself down. Reach out to someone you can confide in; let
yourself go through every step of the grieving process. In the end, you will have a better handle
on your thoughts and yourself.

Do you agree with Rebecca’s suggestions? What advice has been helpful to you when you’ve had a hard time? What advice have you given to other people?

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Thinking about advice