Show Notes
In Part Two of this two-part conversation, Eugene Lynch continues his story — what happened after his HIV diagnosis, how shame and addiction quietly took hold, and the winding road back to honesty, healing, and a full circle career at the charity that once saved him.
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References mentioned in this episode: - Terrence Higgins Trust — https://tht.org.uk/ - Terrence Higgins Trust on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/thtorguk/ - Donate to Terrence Higgins Trust — https://donate.tht.org.uk/ - Terrence Higgins Trust's Positive Voices speaker programme — https://tht.org.uk/about-us/community-projects/hiv-training-and-speakers
THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES: - HIV DIAGNOSIS - DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION - MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES, INCLUDING ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS - SEXUAL ASSAULT (DISCLOSED IN DETAIL) - REHAB AND ADDICTION TREATMENT Listener discretion advised.
Chapters: 00:02:15 Telling Tim: the day of his HIV diagnosis 00:04:17 Guilt, shame, and hiding drug use from Tim 00:05:03 The medication side effect that went unnoticed for two years 00:07:48 The story Eugene told Tim about how he got HIV 00:09:12 Hitting rock bottom in 2018 00:11:33 Reaching out to Terrence Higgins Trust for support 00:15:21 A psychiatrist recommends rehab 00:16:21 Wrestling with the "addict" label as a gay man 00:19:16 Step One: writing down everything and reading it aloud 00:20:48 The full story he'd never told anyone, and a therapist's reframe 00:29:59 Telling Tim the truth years later, and a healing moment 00:34:20 Full circle: from service user to THT director, plus his advice and how to support the charity
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