In disclosing recently -- which went super well in many ways -- I decided to change a word. I believe it made a big difference -- to me at least.
Instead of "outbreak" I used "occurrence."
When you hear "outbreak," what comes to mind? How does the word "outbreak" make you feel?
To me, outbreak makes me think of Ebola. Of terrifying pandemics. Of biological terrorism. Of the recent film. Of something over which there's no control. A really scary bad thing, that can kill you.
Now think of "occurrence." What is an occurrence, exactly?
An occurrence is an event. It's something that happens. It does not remind me of dreadful anything. It can be an annoyance. A traffic jam, a cold, a flat tire. It is nothing terrible. It is basically neutral.
Choosing and using "occurrence" instead of "outbreak" calmed me. It minimized shame. It does not inflame. Nothing hysterical about an occurrence.
And most of all, when it comes to HSV the term is accurate. HSV occurs. It manifests in prodrome form. It appears. It heals. It comes back, less and less often as time passes. It is an occasional event. It happens.
It does not require the intervention of CDC officials in Washington.