Monday call Insights

This week on our support group call, we had some great conversations about acceptance, self-worth, and dating. Of course, it started off with talking about herpes and some herpes-related questions, but as we dove deeper into the conversation, I wanted to outline how getting herpes was an opportunity given to us to learn our self-worth.

Understanding Self-Worth Through the Pennies Analogy

Let's use the example of pennies. It takes 100 pennies to make one dollar. Our goal is to get to the do…

Welcome, everyone! This week, our support group was thrilled to welcome several new faces. Seeing the community grow is always heartening—it means our message is reaching further and that more individuals are ready to find support and understanding about living with herpes. If you're new here or have been with us for a while, remember, being diagnosed with herpes is not the end of the road. It doesn't confine you to loneliness nor does it bind you to the person from whom you may have contracted …

This week on our support group call, I opened up about my herpes diagnosis. This week marks my 13-year anniversary of being diagnosed with herpes. I'm not going to say time flew by, and I'm not going to say time heals. In fact, time does not heal the situation; it just allows you to pick up more situations in your life that need more immediate attention. Think of it as a compounding effect. What heals the situation is you facing it and working on it. Working on the trauma, the hurt, and healing …

Empowering Yourself to Have the Conversation You Deserve

This week on our support group calls, we had some new members. Welcome!!! As you know, I love our Monday support group calls, and I get so excited when we have new members. To me, this means that someone is ready to heal their deep wounds, begin learning how to handle their diagnosis, and start changing their life. When we're diagnosed, we feel like we've been given this huge curse and that it's something we will never get over. It's …

This week we welcomed some new faces to the group, and I absolutely loved supporting each of you. I know that it can be scary and maybe even paralyzing to join a support group for herpes, but by joining, you're beginning to heal your emotional wounds from your herpes diagnosis. This week, many people talked about what it's like to get diagnosed and the dark thoughts that go along with it. It can be such a scary time, but taking the first steps to educate yourself and join the Secret Society will…

I know I say it weekly, but our Monday support groups are amazing! It was so special to hear people in the group talk about how they found the community within weeks of being diagnosed and how joining our support groups has helped tremendously with their mental capacity to go through the herpes journey. We have people in the community who've had herpes for 30+ years who are able to share their advice and support one another, and it truly warms my heart.

On Mondays, we had some great conversat…

Embracing Self-Worth and Resilience

Herpes is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide, yet the stigma surrounding it often leads to feelings of shame and isolation. If you're struggling with the emotional toll of herpes and the fear of rejection, know that you're not alone. In this post, we'll explore ways to overcome shame, build confidence, and handle rejection with grace and resilience.

This Week's Monday Call: A Transformational Experience

This week's Monday…

Wow...this week's support group was by far one of our top conversations. Yes, we're going to touch on one of the topics that we spoke on, but wow, it was really a call about self-love! We truly dove deep, talking about how we create our own reality around our herpes diagnosis and how we have the power to decide our confidence.

When we're diagnosed with herpes, our confidence level is in the negative, and it's something that only we can work on to get back. On the call, we had people saying that…

This week in our support group call, we celebrated a few members who are preparing to disclose their herpes status—congratulations are in order! The scenarios varied, including friends with benefits, a long-distance fling, and someone brand new, pondering the right time to have the conversation. We discussed the logistics of disclosure, debating whether it's best done over the phone, through text, or perhaps before boarding a plane to visit a long-distance crush. Despite the different contexts, …

Introduction

Herpes is a widespread viral infection impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Despite often being stigmatized, a deeper understanding of the virus, its symptoms, and management strategies can significantly enhance the quality of life for those affected. This blog post aims to elucidate the healing process associated with herpes outbreaks and the concept of viral shedding, providing essential guidance for those navigating this condition.

Understanding Herpes

Herpes s…