Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Sleeping Problems?

Do you suffer from sleep problems? We hear about lots of people having trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night and unable to sleep. This is defined as insomnia. This could be a side effect of certain HIV medications at least in the initial stages when you are first starting on HIV meds. Some people need to take so called sleeping pills to battle insomnia, however there’s debate as to whether this is beneficial. Other ways may include drinking hot milk or chamomile tea before bedtime, and to limit caffeine and sugar, especially in the evening hours. So how do you deal with sleeping disorders?

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Depression

Do you suffer from Depression? Do you know if it is caused by HIV, your medications or you? Depression is very common amongst HIV-positive individuals and can arise for a number of reasons. Decreased interest in daily activities, tiredness and fatigue, trouble sleeping or too much sleep, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness and guilt are some of the symptoms of depression. Some people need to take antidepressants to manage their depression. What do you know about depression and how do you cope? Next Wednesday, November 14th, the BCPWA treatment information program will host a community forum on this topic. It will be presented by a local psychiatrist. By attending, you will learn more about depression and HIV. Check out our website for more information about this event.