Few things cause more trepidation about the future and situations that have not yet or might never take place than an STD diagnosis. The most common fear among those who are living with a long term infection is that of telling new partners and the rejection they assume is inevitable. While I cannot promise those fears […]
HSV1 – Things Feel Not Worth It – STI Interviews
Both an HSV1 and an HSV2 diagnosis can spur a multitude of traumatic emotions when located genitally. At The STI Project, we often hear from readers that HSV1 (traditionally thought to be only an oral infection) is the ‘good’ kind of herpes, and that HSV2 is the ‘bad’ kind. But, as evidenced by this interview, countless […]
HSV2 – Met Another Frog – STI Interviews
The immense stigma associated with having an STD, and in this case, HSV2, affects not only the person who’s diagnosed but is also commonly the reason why those who transmit their infection to others flee. The stigma associated with having a sexually transmitted infection and then the shame of transmitting it to someone else can […]
HSV – No One Treats Me Differently – STI Interviews
An incredible example of how support – caring, thoughtful, and educational support – can be the difference between an emotional tailspin upon a new diagnosis and a calm, worry-free reaction. It’s never easy to share one’s story, and each person must decide with whom to share it and how to do so (anonymously, with a […]
HIV – I Didn’t Know How to Internalize It – STI Interviews
I often grapple with the question, ‘Why didn’t you tell someone you had an infection?’ As someone who’s also learned the hard way when to tell someone and how to tell someone, I receive quite a number of questions from readers asking me how to overcome the overwhelming sense of denial and fear that has lead to […]
Living with Herpes – Interview with Kirsty Spraggon- Happy Hump Day Podcasts
I am pleased as punch to bring you today’s special guest, Kirsty Spraggon from KirstyTV.com! Kirsty graciously offered to be interviewed for a podcast, after having recently ‘come out’ publicly about living with herpes to her viewers, all of YouTube, and a rapt TEDx audience. Kirsty is both eloquent and inspirational, and I think you will […]
HSV2 – Never Felt More Embarrassed – STI Interviews
One of the most common things we hear when working with those who are recently diagnosed is how utterly alone they feel. The fortunate (or maybe unfortunate) part about those sentiments is that they are felt by millions of people – yes, millions – who have an STD, in this case HSV2. Millions of people are […]
HSV2 – He Never Bothered to Tell Me – STI Interviews
In compiling these interviews, it never ceases to amaze me the similarities across one another’s narratives, yet, still, how alone, hopeless, and ostracized we can feel. No matter someone’s age or background, the affect of an STD diagnosis – in this case, HSV2 – transcends all boundaries, and often leaves those who are diagnosed in the […]