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Women Action AIDS Network
COMMON THREADS ©
HIV Positive WomenThe Impact of Violence
Vanessa Johnson, JDNAPWA
Common ThreadsDescription of Prevention Intervention
Common Threads is a three day small group prevention intervention designed to reduce HIV/AIDS related stigma by building the capacity of people living with HIV/AIDS to effectively share their life experiences in select geographical areas where there is a high incidence areas for HIV/AIDS.
A Story of Two GirlsOne Story is About Thriving
One Story is About Being Buried Alive
Theme: It’s Like Being Buried Alive
• Framework for this talk– An explanation of HIV vulnerability– How our ability to meet our needs impacts HIV
vulnerability– A look at some of the factors that lead to HIV
vulnerability through the use of a personal story
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Physiological Needs– Breathing, drinking, eating, excretion, & sex– Can control thoughts and behaviors
• Safety Needs– Personal, financial, health, and well-being– Can lead to frustration, apathy, and weakness
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Social Needs– Friendship (or peer pressure), intimacy, family– Can overcome physiological and security needs– Can lead to loneliness, anxiety, and depression
• Esteem Needs– Self-esteem, self-respect, and to respect others– Feeling accepted and values– Low self-esteem, inferiority complexes, hyper seeking
attention, and depression
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
Family HistoryImportance
• Our most powerful memories and important experiences come from our families
• A knowledge of our family history helps us know who we are and makes sense of our lives
• The family tree can shows family connections between individuals and document their effects
My Family History
My family history is one of love, spirituality, perseverance, and hard work. But it is also one with a history of substance use (alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal drugs), violence (verbal, emotional, and physical), and sexual molestation/abuse. My family tree shows how this history flowed through the family, touching multiple generations.
My Family Tree – Violence
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Family History
CHALLENGES• Vulnerability to HIV
Infection: Challenges– Emotions: Difficulty in
Expressing Feelings• Anger• Domestic Violence• Lack of Intimacy
– Mental Health Disorders: • Depression
– Coping Mechanism:• Withdrawal• Substance Use
STRENGTHS• Gateway to Recovery:
Strengths– Mother’s Resiliency– Generous spirit – Closeness:
• Family Gatherings• Available & Dependable in
Times of Need
– Open Minded: Celebrate diversity
– Father Valued Education
Impact of Family HistoryUnmet Needs
• Family met survival needs• However, there were family
challenges to meeting– Safety needs– Love and belonging– Esteem needs
• Impact: Although I felt loved and wanted by my mother I also felt a tremendous amount of fear & anxiety as a result of family violence
FAMILY
HISTORY
FAMILY
HISTORY
Why me?Why me?
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
TimelineImportance
• A timeline shows events and when they occurred• A timeline allows one to plot events in a graphic way,
to see the possible relationships, to help memory, and to grasp how things my have happened in sequence.
• A timeline, especially going from earliest to latest, can suggest the possibility of cause and effect
Impact of TraumaTrauma and HIV
• Research findings indicate that sexual abuse before age 1 8 increases a woman’s risk for becoming HIV-positive more than any other factor.
Why me?
TRAUMA
TRAUMA
I am alone.I am alone.
Timeline Map
• Orange: Violence
• Blue: Sexual
Abuse Episodes
• Green: Substance
Use
• Purple: Positive
Events
• 1 st Red Line – first incidence of sexual molestation
• 2 nd Red Line – diagnosed with HIV
• Green Shading – exposed to substance use
• Light Purple Line – Entered an inpatient recovery program
My Timeline Diagram
0 2 4 6 8 9 1
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6
1
8
2
0
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2
2
4
2
6
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8
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exposure chaos recovery
Response to TraumaSubstance Use and Sex
Age 1 6 • Started going out to clubs
Age 18 • Started binge drinking• Started smoking
marijuana• Promiscuity
Age 1 9 • Partner violence
Why me?
I am alone.SUBSTANCE
USE
SUBSTANCE
USE
I need to escape.I need to escape.
Trauma History
CHALLENGES• Vulnerability to HIV
Infection: Challenges– Witnessed abuse at an
early age– Sexually molested at
an early age– Experienced intimate
partner violence– Relations with Male
Partners with HIV Vulnerabilities
STRENGTHS• Gateway to Recovery:
Strengths
– Family supportive– Family counseling– Family
acknowledgment of hurts
– Family realizing that HIV is a disease and not who I am
Primary Factors Leading to HIV Vulnerability
My Vulnerability to HIV was HighMultifactor Impact
• What I did not realized was that my genetics, race, gender, unmet human needs, family history, and trauma would invariably lead me on a collision course with HIV.
Why me?
I am alone.
I need to escape.
HIV
INFECTION
HIV
INFECTION
My life is over.My life is over.
Living with the MonsterHIV Related Stigma
• The fear of discrimination, rejection (stigma), and violence keeps people from being tested for HIV, from seeking care and treatment if they are diagnosed HIV-positive, and from disclosing their HIV status to partners
Why me?
I am alone.
I need to escape.
My life is over.
STIGMA
STIGMA
I really am human underneath all this.I really am human underneath all this.
Recovery
Age 36 • Entered Rehab • Family Counseling Age 37 • VolunteerAge 38 • Passed NY Bar Exam Age 4 2 • CDAACA Age 4 8 • NAPWA
Finding Me Again
Contact Information
Vanessa Johnson, JD
Executive Vice President
NAPWA
8401 Colesville Road
Suite 505
Silver Spring, MD 20910
240-247-1016 (p)
240-247-0574 (f)
vjohnson@napwa.org
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