Transformation Tuesday: Redefining Life After Your Herpes Diagnosis
A different kind of Transformation Tuesday…
There is often a collective shift that happens among those diagnosed with a stigmatized infection. I’ve noticed similarities in those living with herpes, too.
While much of the world chooses to focus and bolster stereotypes about living with herpes post-diagnosis, I wanted to dedicate a post to a few transformations that we might not appreciate as often:
Before: thinking STIs only happen to “bad” people
After: realizing that STIs don’t have a “type” of person
Before: assuming invincibility with partners
After: having conversations about safer sex with partners
Before: fearing STI screenings
After: seeing STI screenings as self-care
Before: Thinking herpes is a dating and sex death sentence
After: shifting vulnerability into increased depth with partners
These aren’t all of the transformations that can occur post-diagnosis, and these certainly don’t happen overnight, but these are the narratives that deserve a space of recognition.