(NSFW)What is it like to find out you have this?

I do not have HIV…I hope but I am asking this question due to a friend I met once that said that he has HIV. He said that he was very scared at first but he later learnt through therapy that you can have a normal life afterwards. When I think of it, it is really scary to me and to tell the truth I do not know how I would react to such a thing so could you help me out on this?