Of all the negative things that often accompany an STD diagnosis, there’s one positive gain that seems to hold true for nearly all of those affected: empathy. While I can think of a number of more desirable ways to attain empathy or the ability to understand how someone else might be feeling, it’s an inevitable […]
Dealing with Multiple STDs and Depression – STI Interviews
On first read, it might seem improbable someone could contract more than one STD at a time, but the reality is it’s quite common. Remember, once someone has contracted one infection, they are at a higher risk of contracting additional infections. Couple that with the inability to test for all STDs and how often they […]
HSV2 – Accepting the Virus, the Flaws, All of Me – STI Interviews
This interview came in as an anonymous submission via the contact form. The author tells a beautiful story of how an HSV2 diagnosis has helped her reflect upon her past, and how her infection has inspired some necessary, positive and self-empowering introspection. As I put these interviews together, I find most remarkable the similarities in […]
Herpes 1 & 2 – ‘Today is day one.’ – STI Interviews
On day one of his STD diagnosis, this interviewee set out to do research and found The STI Project. Armed with an incredibly positive outlook and loads of resources at his fingertips, this 26-year-old is likely to work through the typical challenges one faces when being diagnosed with a highly stigmatized infection with ease – […]
HSV2 – What I Have is Not What Defines Me – STI Interviews
This interview came in anonymously via the contact form and touches on a number of excellent ideas surrounding STDs and HSV2, in particular. While living with an STI/STD, we all encounter some of the same obstacles, and discovering we’re not alone via this kind of anonymous storytelling is a great way to learn how to […]
Herpes – I Didn’t Want to be Thought of as a ‘Slut’ – STI Interviews
Women of all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds, and who identify with all sexual orientations contract STDs, and this interviewee’s story is no different. What’s most remarkable, or maybe more accurately, most disheartening, however, is the similarities in fears one experiences upon initial diagnosis. They are nearly identical in all of those who are […]
HSV2 – He Made Me Feel Alienated – STI Interviews
Submitted anonymously via the contact form, this interview does an excellent job of touching on the self-analysis one undergoes after getting diagnosed with an STD. It’s never easy sharing an honest perspective like the one below, as it requires an interviewee to courageously ‘look their situation in the face’ in hopes of healing and not letting […]
Herpes: If So Many People Have It, Why Is Everyone Afraid? Part 2
If genital herpes is usually so minor, should we even test for it? This is a debate that I often have with my colleagues. The medical community does not agree on the answer to this question. If someone has a painful genital sore, we all agree that testing is appropriate. It also makes sense if […]