Entries by David Fawcett

When the Crisis Lasts a Lifetime: HIV, Burnout, and Emotional Survival

Living with HIV creates one stressful event after another: anxiety about getting tested, dealing with news that one is positive, when to start medications, dealing with anxiety, depression and stigma…The list is endless.  It is critical that we learn how to manage these feelings because the toll created by chronic stress is directly related to […]

The Endangered Wonder of the Positive Living Conference, and Why It Matters for Our Patients

Every spring, on the white, sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle, an unlikely gathering takes place. On that narrow strip of land, between the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, 450 HIV-positive men and women from around the country, but mostly from the Southeast, come together amidst occasional spring breakers for a weekend of socializing, […]

David Fawcett Receives Who’s Who in Florida Prevention Award

David Fawcett PhD, LCSW, has been honored with the "Who's Who in Florida Prevention Award" in recognition of his leadership in both substance abuse and HIV/AIDS prevention.   The Florida Office of Drug Control named individuals recognized for their leadership at the annual statewide Prevention in Florida Conference in Orlando in early October.  This award acknowledges […]

NATIONAL GAY MEN’S HEALTH SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN FORT LAUDERDALE AUGUST 25 – 29

Hundreds of gay men and their allies from throughout the country and beyond will gather on August 25 – 29, 2010, at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport and Cruise Port Hotel to participate in the 2010 National Gay Men’s Health Summit. The theme of the event is  “Creating a Brighter Future: The Next Decade of […]

Finding Your [Spandex-Free] Inner Hero

Several times a year at New York’s Stonewall Inn (yes, that Stonewall) a number of gay superheroes (well, gay men wearing spandex and fabric superhero costumes) gather together to discover their extraordinary powers.   There are plenty of X-Men and Transformers and even a hunky Superboy or two.   This is “Skin Tight USA,” a gay costume-fetish […]

MAY 15 ABSTRACT DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR NATIONAL GAY MEN’S HEALTH SUMMIT

The deadline to submit abstracts for the 2010 National Gay Men’s Health Summit is fast approaching.  See details below.  For more information or to submit your proposal visit www.gmhs2010.com NATIONAL GAY MEN’S HEALTH SUMMIT 2010 Creating a Brighter Future: The Next Decade of Gay Men’s Health August 25-30, 2010 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Press Release: The […]

Living Longer by Living With Purpose

    Some years ago a friend of mine sold his successful veterinary practice in the midwest, bought a van, and headed to California to pursue his lifelong dream of writing music.  People no doubt thought he had lost his mind, or at least regressed from being a responsible adult to a frivolous adolescent searching for […]

Volunteering Can Make You Healthy and Happy

     Did you know that giving your time and effort on behalf of someone else can actually improve your mood and overall health?  Although it sounds too good to be true, that is the conclusion of a number of studies on a variety of populations from around the world.  Scientists are still unraveling the specifics, […]

A Different Longtime Companion: Reflections on World AIDS Day 2009

 David Fawcett, PhD, LCSW It was 1982 when my friend Andrew developed an odd pneumonia that put him in the hospital and ran through his body with such ferocity that he was dead in three days.  My friends and I were stunned, until it soon happened again – this time with another acquaintance who survived […]

HPV: a Hidden Epidemic that’s Killing Gay Men

   David Fawcett, PhD, LCSW       Albert, a gay man, came back to my psychotherapy office for the first time in three months.  He looked thinner, pale, and depressed.  He was still on a significant amount of pain medications after suffering three painful rectal surgeries in an attempt to treat aggressive anal cancer.  His […]