Decentering Herpes in Dating: Prioritizing Connection, Confidence, and Self-Worth
I’ve been thinking a lot on how current dating conversations tend to bring up the idea of “decentering men”—in dating lives and beyond. It got me thinking about how this idea of “decentering” can apply to other areas of dating—including dating with herpes.
What would happen if you stopped letting your herpes status control the narrative?
What if you started prioritizing authentic connection?
What if feeling understood became a top priority?
What if you trusted your boundaries instead of stressing over how someone else might react?
How would your dating life change if you focused more on your needs and less on their approval?
This is Instagram, so obviously this isn’t an approach that will work for everyone or every situation depending on where you are in your healing journey.
But think about what it would feel like? How would it feel to be accepted, understood, and appreciated without herpes leading the way? How would it feel like to just be you?