Something Positive for Positive People

Meet 40 year old Emma in the Bay area! 9 months diagnosed with HSV1 & HPV, open-minded Emma did NOT fit the mold of the kind of person she considered to have any stds. Mindfulness and self-awareness were key to Emma's bounce back from feeling like shit to the knowing that she is the shit.... as should you. 

You should listen to this episode if you're struggling to tell people close to you. Allow yourself to open up to the world around you, especially those most important to you that you feel compelled to tell.

The episode title says it all. You get tested and have your perception of yourself challenged. Once you realize you're THE shit, you stop feeling that way.

Personally, I came to like myself more around the people who knew I had herpes than I did around those who didn't know. There was no more hiding or shame, there was only awareness of inconsistency of my behaviors. I opened up to one friend, then another, then family members, and now anyone who listens to this or goes to my Instagram knows. And you know what? Most people really don't give a shit because it doesn't affect them. In dating, you have to realize who you are and your self worth. 

We often question whether or not a person will accept us for our condition, when in reality, you should ask if you accept them as a fit for your life. 

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Stay Positive

41 year old entrepreneur, Marie shares her 20 years of experience living with HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus). In her experience, dating with herpes is just like dating in general... people suck lol. "It's 100 times harder to find someone who's a match for you than it is to find someone who accepts you for H." - Marie. I'm sure not everyone will agree with that statement right away, but it's a truth I can personally relate to. Once you get past the point of hyping up your condition to be this thing that makes you unwantable, you find that more people you allow into your life aren't the right ones for you. Nothing is wrong with being picky at all. And if you're reading this and are at a place where you find it challenging to find someone who accepts you for your condition, then I challenge you to ask yourself if YOU accept yourself as a whole first. Sounds like BS but it's so very true.

Taking a look back from her experience, historically there's just been misinformation shared. Science and research have never really appealed to me. I learned that you can spend so much time studying and reading and preparing and planning . . . . only to realize when the situation you planned for arises, you have a different situation. Now what? Now you've put all this time into creating a plan that doesn't get to be executed. That's why I highly value the experience of the guests who come on and share their stories and experience with their conditions. No one has all the right answers, but my goal is for you to use this podcast to guide you to the right answer for YOU. Stay Positive.

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Matthew just recently hit his 10 year mark having HIV. He had gone to the doctor for Mono treatment at 17 to find out he was HIV positive. Matthew shares his experience testing positive, what he went through upon diagnosis and how life has been since then for him. 

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Stay Positive!

Never settle in a relationship. Despite being diagnosed with herpes, you shouldn’t make yourself be somewhere you don’t want to be. You don’t have to stay because of feelings of unworthiness.

Testing for herpes is not recommended by the CDC for a variety of reasons. Potential misdiagnosis is one of those reasons.

This was my first interview with a couple who met through support group events. Each one shares their experience of their diagnosis prior to meeting each other in addition to showing us their sex life isn't over.

Our guest shares her experience getting back into the dating world after a divorce and really beginning to explore her sexuality to find out she is hsv positive.

Trigger warning - Our guest talks about having been drugged and raped leading to their positive HSV diagnosis. Please take care of yourself as you listen to this episode and understand the main takeaway here is to treat the trauma.

Our guest from this episode introduced me to pansexuality, what it means to be kinky, what non-binary is and for the first time, brought the pronoun conversation to me. Herpes positive, polyamorous and pansexual, our guest talks about the role having HSV plays in their sex life.