Overcoming Avoidance: Confronting Sexual Shame and STI Disclosure
This post specifically addresses those avoidance mechanisms related to sexually transmitted infections. I could come up with a much longer list as it relates to sexuality as a whole, but this provides tangible examples that we may all have experienced or encountered.
3 Examples of Avoidance in Coping with Sexual Shame
1. Avoiding STI tests: avoiding regular STI screenings, whether one exhibits symptoms or is asymptomatic, is avoidance of the reality of living with an STI (or what society says that is like)
2. Avoiding talking about safer sex with partner: the media rarely depicts partners discussing safer sex with one another. Many consider these (necessary) conversations “awkward” or “taking away from the moment”
3. Avoiding disclosure of one’s STI status: disclosures are mutual; however, the onus is often on someone to share a positive status (like oral or genital herpes) or initiate the conversation. Procrastinating the disclosure until contact is physical is a means of avoidance.