Table 4.

Emergent Themes from Expressive Writing Exercises on HIV-Related Trauma.

Theme	Representative Quotation(s)
Enacted Stigma Following HIV Diagnosis	The person that told me said and I quote “You have AIDS just like all the faggots in town you will die in a few months so go plan your funeral.” That was like I had been thrown in front of a bus. I’m still hurt and pissed now 26 years later. (HIV-positive for 25.3 years, Caucasian)
Bereavement and an Uncertain Future	So many bright and handsome people gone so early in life…I feel like I was on a 747 that crashed and I was the sole survivor. (HIV-positive for 28.3 years, Caucasian) I can say that deep down inside I know that my body is going to waste faster each day…To be honest I really feel like my life now has been dealt a really bad hand as far as my life span goes for my future. Seems like since I have been infected with the virus my health has really turned for the worst on top of dealing with my other sicknesses. (HIV-positive for 1.3 years, Multicultural)
Enacted Stigma Following HIV Disclosure	My mom stops talking to me…my older brother he hates me now. He thinks that if I touch his hand he is going to get HIV. (HIV-positive for 1.3 years, Hispanic/Latino)
Triggers for HIV-Related Traumatic Stress	I have to continue to take my HIV medication every day for the rest of my life. I think when you are just HIV positive and you are not on meds, that you can sometimes forget you are carrying this virus inside you... Its funny how taking something that was supposed to help you live could be so scary. (HIV-positive for 5.3 years, Caucasian) I see a sick person sporadically. I guess it’s a jarring reminder that I have it…I don’t think about having it as I make my way through a crowd of faces on a street I think I’m just like them. Then I see someone and I’m reminded. (HIV-positive for 11.8 years, Caucasian)