“I used to think I had to cope on my own for a long time,” says Anna (name changed).

Anna is a mother and a woman living with HIV. She moved to Poland before the full-scale war began. At that time, her life was divided between two countries: she worked abroad but regularly returned to Ukraine — to see her family and to receive antiretroviral therapy.

“I was used to having everything under control: I would come, pick up my treatment, see my loved ones — and go back,” she says.

After 2022, this was no longer possible. Returning home became dangerous and practically impossible. At the same time, Anna faced something she had never spoken about openly before — self-stigma and a lack of acceptance from her relatives.

“I felt a lot of shame about my status. I was afraid of judgment, and honestly, part of that judgment I carried within myself,” she shares. “Even in my family, I didn’t feel fully supported. It puts a lot of pressure on you.”

Over time, this led to a depressive state. Anna tried to cope on her own. “I thought I would just get through it, that asking for help was a sign of weakness. But it only got worse.”

The idea of seeing a psychologist crossed her mind, but it felt out of reach. “Paid sessions are expensive. I kept postponing it.”

Anna learned about the possibility of free psychological support through the From Heart To Heart project by chance. “I saw information online about consultations with psychologist Marina. I decided to give it a try.”

This step became a turning point.
“For the first time in a long while, I felt that I wasn’t being judged. I felt relief even after the first conversation,” Anna says.
“I realized I wasn’t alone and that there wasn’t something ‘wrong’ with me, as I used to think. I became calmer, started to understand myself and my emotions better. And most importantly — I stopped blaming myself. I’m very grateful for this support.”

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This publication was prepared by Fundacją HelpNow HUBwithin the framework of the project “From heart to heart” in partnership with Step by Step Fundacja, in partnership with Fundacja Res Humanae, with financial support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation.