HIV INFECTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS: FEELINGS ABOUT SEX-PROBLEMS WITH FEELINGS ABOUT SEX
Probably the most difficult problem is that some people equate making love with getting sick. They worry about getting sicker themselves, they worry about making other people sick. They feel guilty having sex. They mourn the loss of the sexual life they once had. They feel violated by the virus; the virus invaded their bodies when they were doing something enjoyable and natural. And all these feelings come at a time when people intensely need the closeness that sexual intimacy brings. “We’ve seen couples pull apart,” said Dean. “We need closeness a lot more now.” Another problem for some people is that they feel safer sex is no fun. Safer sex seems to detract from spontaneity and a feeling of relaxation. It sometimes seems to add a barrier of constraint or artificiality between partners. In addition, some people not in long-term sexual relationships fear that if they meet someone they like, they will have to begin the relationship by telling that person something unpleasant to hear. Perhaps that person will respond by rejecting them. Perhaps that person will spread the information about their diagnosis.
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