neergmas

@optimist Thank you! Brand new here, not sure yet how it all works

Any input is greatly appreciated! I'm very newly diagnosed (less than a week). I'm a 21 year old single female. I'm bisexual but tend toward romantic relationships with women and sexual relationships with men. I'm not sure if my GH is HSV- 1 or 2 but I'm almost positive I got it genital- genital. I'm still in the midst of my first OB so needless to say, sex is not a priority for me right this minute. However, I'm generally a highly sexual person and already eager to get back to casual dating eventually something long term. I know that I will have to disclose to any partner I'll have from now on, I'm just wondering what is specifically included in a disclosure (especially for casual encounters). What information do you include? What statistics do you throw out there, if any? What facts? My goal would be to put my partner at ease but also be completely honest. If anyone could give me any advice or even examples of their own disclosure talks, I'd be so grateful.

Hi there. First off I'd like to let you know that you are so far from being alone in this. Our situations are strikingly similar, I'm a college- aged female very recently diagnosed, with a questionable sexual history. Please know that everything you're feeling is legitmate. Being upset with the choices you've made, beating yourself up over "allowing" this to happen to you, feeling dirty or that you can't be loved again. These are legitimate feelings, but they're rooted in the shock and shame you're feeling from just being recently diagnosed and they're not the truth. You couldn't have known this would happen to you. No one imagines it. And I think that can partly blamed on the lack of information about H that's readily available to us. That lack of information also fuels the social stigma that has us so afraid of others finding out about our diagnosis. But again, that stigma is not reality. The reality is, as you said, that you are the same girl. The same sister and daughter and friend that you've always been and you are NOT guilty of anything. You are a good person who will not only strive through this journey, but thrive. I also had the same thought, that everything happens for a reason and being forced to be my healthiest self may actually be a really amazing thing. I think it's so impressive that we can look at it this way, I'm proud of both for that. Holding onto this hope is what has helped me cope for the past 5 days since my diagnosis. I was worried because I have depression that I manage with medication and the initial hopelessness I felt, while also dealing with a terrible primary OB, felt like enough to send me into a depressive episode. But I immediately began taking vitamin C and B complex, garlic everyday, staying as relaxed as I can and KEEPING A JOURNAL. I can't stress enough how helpful that's been for me. I have lists of foods to avoid, suggested supplements etc, as well as just notes about I'm feeling. This helped tremendously with feeling more organized and like I really can manage this. I think it coule help you, especially being away from home. I wish you the best and I'm here for any support you might need. Xx