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Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Why Should I be?
I will not allow myself to be ridiculed, stigmatized or disrespected by others for having a disease. Disease is a natural part of life whether you are human, animal or plant. Nobody is exempt from disease, almost no one will live their full life without getting at least one sexually transmitted disease. These are the facts.
Some people are afraid of diseases and those who have them, that is an ancient, primal fear and one I understand well, but it doesn't excuse anyone from mean-spirited, ignorant behaviour towards those with diseases.
When I was a kid we made fun of "retarded" and "handicapped" people. i am deeply ashamed of that now, but children can be quite brutal. adults need to hold themselves to a much higher standard.
Those who make sick jokes about herpes are not only aping the same mentality as those who make racist or sexist jokes but they are also exposing their own lack of courage. It's much easier to ridicule the things you are afraid of rather than having the courage to face those fears. They are creating a stigma that causes millions of people with herpes unnecessary grief.
At least 60% of the population has herpes above or below the waist.
70% of the population will get hpv as genital warts or cervical dysplasia. 80% will get chlamydia at least once- most women will get it more than once.
All animals with backbones get herpes including cats, horses, elephants and salmon. Most animals without a backbone get herpes including worms.
Having herpes doesn't make me less moral, less attractive, less ethical, less worthy of respect, less sexy or less of a great catch, so why would I be ashamed to have herpes?
I am not afraid of my body. I know that sometimes I will get sick.. I know that my faculties will decline as I age and that i am destined to die. This is the beauty of life- the contrast and balance between health and disease, between happiness and sorrow, summer and winter, fullness and emptiness, life and death.
I am a natural person, I am not shamed or at war with any part of my body, including the herpes virus. I am at peace with the virus, my body and my place in this world as a person with a lifelong herpes infection.
I am most definitely not ashamed.
christopher scipio
homeopath/herbalist
herpes treatment specialist
www.herpesnation.com
herpesnation.blogspot.com
Why Should I be?
I will not allow myself to be ridiculed, stigmatized or disrespected by others for having a disease. Disease is a natural part of life whether you are human, animal or plant. Nobody is exempt from disease, almost no one will live their full life without getting at least one sexually transmitted disease. These are the facts.
Some people are afraid of diseases and those who have them, that is an ancient, primal fear and one I understand well, but it doesn't excuse anyone from mean-spirited, ignorant behaviour towards those with diseases.
When I was a kid we made fun of "retarded" and "handicapped" people. i am deeply ashamed of that now, but children can be quite brutal. adults need to hold themselves to a much higher standard.
Those who make sick jokes about herpes are not only aping the same mentality as those who make racist or sexist jokes but they are also exposing their own lack of courage. It's much easier to ridicule the things you are afraid of rather than having the courage to face those fears. They are creating a stigma that causes millions of people with herpes unnecessary grief.
At least 60% of the population has herpes above or below the waist.
70% of the population will get hpv as genital warts or cervical dysplasia. 80% will get chlamydia at least once- most women will get it more than once.
All animals with backbones get herpes including cats, horses, elephants and salmon. Most animals without a backbone get herpes including worms.
Having herpes doesn't make me less moral, less attractive, less ethical, less worthy of respect, less sexy or less of a great catch, so why would I be ashamed to have herpes?
I am not afraid of my body. I know that sometimes I will get sick.. I know that my faculties will decline as I age and that i am destined to die. This is the beauty of life- the contrast and balance between health and disease, between happiness and sorrow, summer and winter, fullness and emptiness, life and death.
I am a natural person, I am not shamed or at war with any part of my body, including the herpes virus. I am at peace with the virus, my body and my place in this world as a person with a lifelong herpes infection.
I am most definitely not ashamed.
christopher scipio
homeopath/herbalist
herpes treatment specialist
www.herpesnation.com
herpesnation.blogspot.com
posted by:
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Vancouver
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Thu, July 26, 2007 - 2:53 PMAmen, this is such a great post. If only more people had this mentality! Thanks Chris.
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Mon, December 31, 2007 - 7:07 AMVery powerful post. Definitely an attitude to strive toward.
I wonder... do you think it was easier for you to adopt this
attitude because you are in the medical profession? Or
did it come about based on your personal experiences throughout life?
ACHE1 -
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Thu, January 3, 2008 - 1:01 PMThanks for this.
Wouldn't it be easier if pop culture would address this issue?
I think of people on TV, characters jumping in and out of bed with each other,
having sex mid-sentence even, with no reference to condoms and safe sex, or complications
beyond the occasional isolated pregnancy. For crying out loud, statistics alone almost guarantee these "people" would have contracted something
Unfortunately, I have double-whammy evidence of insensitivities in the medical profession...both hsv and a mental illness.
Doctors are only human and they too can judge harshly and unfairly. -
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Thu, January 3, 2008 - 3:26 PMI agree.
But America is sooooo repressed, it's gonna take a big change for people to open up enough to understand.
And if TV people talked about condoms, that might make us look like we think it's ok to talk about sex in a rational manner.
And then, by gum, all them teenagers would have sex! -
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Sun, April 27, 2008 - 10:06 AMI too am not ashamed to have herpes, I am one of those people who tells the world. It is made out to be so shameful and thats why it spreads so much. I knew nothing about it before I got it, I did all the right things the condoms and the talks. But not everyone is honest, but that has to do with the shame. I have taught so many of my friends and family members about this, even perfect strangers. I think its "us" the people who do have this that have to be open and get it out of the closet and get out of that shame based thinking about this. That is what will make change in how we are looked at and it will teach people. people are only afraid of what they dont know about, that monster in the closet turned out to just be some dirty laundry. -
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Tue, April 29, 2008 - 6:18 PMMy close friends and family know I have it. I tell my potential lovers.
I would love to get to a point where I could be so open, either to host a support group or give talks in high schools.
I just told a potential lover today. He's thinking about it..........
One interesting thing he said, with surprise "you don't seem like the type, I would have never guessed".
Made me wonder what people think a herpes carrier looks like. We're not lepers! It's not like your nose falls off. I guess since I don't have open sores on my face? -
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Wed, April 30, 2008 - 5:51 AM"you don't seem like the type, I would have never guessed".
That's just a silly thing to say! Hopefully he'll do his own research or ask you questions before saying no.
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Wed, April 30, 2008 - 8:19 AMA very good friend of mine , a woman in her 70's was just telling me she was tested and has Epstien-Barr.. I was looking it up online for her and its a member of the herpes virus.. so whats the big deal about having herpes.. i dont need to go shouting from the roof tops that i have it.. its between me and whom ever i wish to be intimate with. my family knows.. but then they also know i suffer from various mental and emotional health issues. but its mine and i own it.. i take control of it.. it does not take control of me.
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Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Thu, May 8, 2008 - 6:39 PMWhat always gets left out of the discussion is that we--all of us--were willing to take a risk, to love somebody wholeheartedly with all of their flaws. Sometimes that risk-taking results in emotional wounding, and sometimes in physical disease. After 18 years of free love, I caught it from somebody I had known for over 12 years, who himself caught it only recently between the times we were together. The irony is that the disease did not come from a random one-night stand, but from a long-evolving friendship/relationship. And I caught oral herpes years ago while in the most committed monogamous relationship of my life. Time to shatter the stereotypes.
What to do? Refuse to love? to connect with anyone in a genuine way? This alternative seems cowardly to me. -
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Unsu...
Re: Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Sun, August 3, 2008 - 7:24 AMHerpes definately is better than many other diseases I could have.
I find the reactions from men I meet or know are more like: when will it go away (never), or, ok, so?
Then I am glad I know how to use all the protection I use, I am the one who should have more knowledge.
Good luck, there are many people out there who will not care that you have it.
xo
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