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STD Stigma Is Trauma: When to Seek Professional Help
Getting diagnosed with an STD isn’t just a medical moment — for many people, it’s an emotional shockwave.
Shame, fear, rejection, panic, intrusive thoughts… the feelings can hit harder than the virus itself.
And here’s the thing most people don’t realize:
STD stigma is a form of trauma.
Not because the diagnosis is dangerous, but because of what society has taught us to believe about it.
If you’ve been struggling emotionally since your diagnosis, nothing is “wrong with you.”
You’re reactin…
How Herpes Brought Me From Lost to Found
Before I had been diagnosed with herpes, I didn’t realize how lost I was in my own life.
Everything I was doing was based on how the world told me to live, was focused on the glamorization of sin (although I didn’t use that language at the time), and the complete disintegration of all aspects of myself.
It was hearing things around me like:
“You need to explore your body to know what you like.”
“It’s what people do.”
“That’s normal.” (For things that should not be normal.)
But it was also …
Can I Join the Army If I Have Herpes?
If you’ve been worrying that a herpes diagnosis automatically disqualifies you from military service, take a breath — that’s not the case. Herpes (whether HSV-1 or HSV-2) is incredibly common, medically manageable, and NOT considered a barrier to joining the U.S. military or most other national armed forces.
Herpes Is Not a Disqualifying Condition
The military’s medical standards focus on conditions that:
- Affect physical performance
- Interfere with operational readiness
- Could cause se…
How to Talk to Children About Herpes (By Age & Stage)
Talking to kids about herpes doesn’t have to feel scary, awkward, or “too much.”
With the right language, you can normalize the virus, reduce shame before it even starts, and actually help your kids grow up with healthier attitudes about bodies, boundaries, and safety.
The conversation looks different depending on their age — toddlers, kids, pre-teens, and teens each need their own style and level of information.
Let’s break it down.
For Toddlers & Young Kids (0–6): Focus on Oral Herpes & …
What Can History Teach Us About Herpes Stigma
I was listening to a podcast recently about a historical figure who had leprosy. As the host described how people viewed leprosy at the time—fear, avoidance, moral judgment, shame and divine punishment—my first thought was:
“They’re talking about leprosy the way many people still talk about herpes today.”
It was a strange moment of realization:
Everything they described—how people isolated leprosy patients, saw them as “unclean,” believed they were morally at fault—sounded painfully familiar.…
Herpes Transmission Rates: What’s the Real Risk?
This is such a common question we get from people, and honestly, one, that is so hard to answer, because what we're working on, are estimates. Statistics that give a general idea. None of them do, or, let's be honest, can, predict all the factors.
And when you Googled 'Transmission rates herpes', depending on what website you clicked, you probably walked away either terrified… or confused.
Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.
First: Transmission Rates Are Not 50/50
A lot…
Ocular Herpes: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How to Stay Safe
When you hear the word herpes, you probably think of oral cold sores or genital outbreaks. But herpes can also affect the eyes — a condition called ocular herpes or herpes keratitis.
The idea of herpes affecting the eye understandably sounds alarming, but the good news is:
✔ It’s treatable
✔ It’s usually mild when managed promptly
✔ It doesn’t happen just because you have oral or genital herpes
Let’s break it down.
What Is Ocular Herpes?
Ocular herpes is an infection of the eye caused b…
Can Herpes Really Cause Encephalitis (Inflammation of the brain)?
When people Google “herpes encephalitis,” anxiety skyrockets — fast.
Suddenly, a cold sore feels terrifying. A genital outbreak feels like a ticking time bomb.
But here’s the truth you deserve to hear clearly:
👉 Regular oral or genital herpes does NOT cause brain damage, encephalitis, or anything close to it.
Herpes encephalitis is a completely different medical situation than the everyday HSV-1 or HSV-2 infections millions of people live with.
Let’s break this down in a way that makes sens…
Do Herpes Outbreaks Always Occur in the Same Spot?
If you’ve had herpes for a while, you might have noticed something strange — your outbreaks often seem to appear in the exact same spot. But then, sometimes… they don’t. So what’s really going on? Why does herpes sometimes stick to one place, and other times decide to surprise you somewhere else?
Let’s break it down.
Where the Virus Hides
Once you’re infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2), it doesn’t live on your skin — it hides inside your nerve cells near the spine.
- Fo…
💊 When Antivirals Suddenly Trigger More Outbreaks: What’s Going On?
If you’ve ever started taking antivirals like valacyclovir (Valtrex), acyclovir, or famciclovir — and suddenly found yourself having more outbreaks — you’re not alone. It sounds completely backwards, right? You take something that’s supposed to prevent outbreaks, and instead it feels like it’s making them worse.
Before you panic or toss your pills, let’s unpack what might really be happening.
⚙️ How Antivirals Work
Antivirals don’t kill the herpes virus — they simply stop it from replica…