Spread Hope: A Therapist's Guide to Living and Laughing With HIV/AIDS

Let's Talk About Sex, Drugs and HIV

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:39:00 GMT

These kids today ...

I feel so old just writing that, yet there is no more accurate statement, at least with regard to the topic of HIV/AIDS. When I came of age in the 90s, one of the many hooks we all sang was "Let's Talk About Sex" (by Salt-N-Pepa, the first all-girl hip-hop group ... they also had a reality show for a few minutes, if that's all you youngsters can relate to). And talk about sex we did. From condoms to girl power to HIV. All these concepts were blended together to form our overall vision of healthy sexual expression. It was almost impossible to talk about sex without inserting (pun intended) the word "safer" in front.

Addiction Treatment and Las Vegas, Perfect Together?!

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Fri, 4 May 2012 08:51:00 GMT

Recently, I traveled to Las Vegas to attend the annual, national conference on the care and treatment of opioid addiction held by AATOD (American Association of the Treatment of Opioid Dependence). It was a huge gathering of some of the most important and influential addictions professionals, counselors, medical personnel, and other entities involved in the overall treatment of this population.

The Invisible Lives of Homeless LGBTQ Youth

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Imagine being a young person and being kicked out of your home for being "different". Imagine finding a shred of hope in a welcoming shelter with other young people struggling with similar experiences. Then imagine feeling in danger of this hope and shelter being taken away. Imagine worrying that you will once again be thrown away, back to the streets. That some of your only means of survival is to engage in risky behaviors. To feel you have no other choice but to risk your health and safety just for a meal or a place to sleep.

Breaking the Silence Again: Why We ALL Need to Care About HIV/AIDS

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:11:00 GMT

Okay, this blog entry is directed at those who are not actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. For those who are active and would like to persuade others to join us, please share it with them. We are all well aware of the need to maintain our voice in this fight; we also need to recruit new members to share our mission and passion!

HIV/AIDS affects all of us. Some of you may doubt this statement so let me elaborate. HIV/AIDS does not discriminate, nor does it target any one specific group of people. This is a false assumption and it's a huge myth that we all must work to combat.

Hope for the Future: The 30th Anniversary of AIDS

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Fri, 3 Jun 2011 14:00:00 GMT

This month the discovery of AIDS turns 30. On June 5, 1981, a rare pneumonia diagnosed in five Los Angeles gay men was reported to the CDC. These were the first ever documented cases of what would later become known as AIDS. (Check out a comprehensive history of HIV/AIDS here).

Stress: "Is It Worth Losing a T Cell?"

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:53:00 GMT

I probably don't need to tell you that our lives are full of tons of stress. Money, relationships, terror alerts, traffic, unemployment, poverty, the endless circus of GOP candidates, finding out your partner had a child with your maid 10 years ago (okay, maybe that one is specific to a certain Kindergarten Cop).

When you are living with HIV/AIDS, stress can be intensified. Okay, that's a total understatement. Stress can be like a tornado swirling with HIV-related debris coming at you from every angle. Doctor's appointments, endless blood work, waiting for results of blood work, HIV medications, additional medications to off-set the countless side-effects of HIV medications, financial strain, treatment fatigue, stigma, discrimination, disclosure issues ... I could go on with this list, yet that would mean this blog post would be insanely long. Plus, we need to move on to the part where we help you relieve the stress.

Major Opinion on Major HIV/AIDS Crisis

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:14:00 GMT

In a breath of fresh air, The New York Times Op/Ed writer Charles M. Blow provides a well-rounded, well-researched, and thought-provoking commentary on the need for our government to pay more attention to the ADAP Crisis.

AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP) provide financial assistance to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS in paying for their critical and life-saving medications. As HIV meds continue to be incredibly expensive, more and more people are seeking financial assistance. Unfortunately, states across the country continue to cut funding to this valuable program, thereby denying these crucial medications to thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS.

What Is Going on With MTV's The Real World??

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:52:00 GMT

I know what you're thinking ... I'm too old to watch or care about MTV's The Real World. Yes, this is true. However, because I'm old enough to vividly remember the early days of The Real World, I feel the need to explore what I'm seeing with the latest cast members.

This season marks the 25th anniversary of the show. Since 1992, there have been 25 separate groups of young people living together and having their lives taped. The Real World was the very first ever reality show. The show has been ground breaking and progressive in its entertainment and in its social commentary.

A Therapist's Guide to Living and Laughing With HIV/AIDS

info@elizabethlombino.com (Elizabeth Lombino) — Mon, 9 May 2011 21:20:00 GMT

Welcome to my new blog! I'm excited to have the opportunity to share some humor and hope with you! Hopefully you will learn something new about yourself and improve your quality of life.

Before we get into all of that, this post will give you the opportunity to learn more about me. I am a Licensed Social Worker with over 10 years experience working in the field of HIV/AIDS. Prior to my professional work, I have several more years experience and education in all things HIV/AIDS.