Rebuilding life: The experience of living with AIDS after facing imminent death

The study described in this article explored how 7 men who believed they we re dying from an AIDS-related illness began the process of rebuilding their lives following a course of successful combination therapy. Using constant comparison within and across interviews, three major themes emerged. Back to Living was the realization they were going to live. Realizing my life ha s changed was associated with living with uncertainty, appearing healthy wh ile living with AIDS, and letting go of their preoccupation with physical w ell-being. Re-adusting my life was associated with a change in daily routin es, reevaluation of their sense of self, questioning their relationships, r eengaging with society, and developing new life plans. Findings suggest tha t these participants felt living had become more difficult.