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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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