Herpes Opportunity

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the staff members from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the staff members from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012.

An interview with one of the participants from the very first Herpes Opportunity weekend seminar in Raleigh, NC, October 26-28, 2012. Transcript: I: So yeah, just like a general sense of the weekend. What was it like for you? P: I wasn’t really sure going in what to expect, but I came out a different person for sure. It’s more about your self. It’s more about really . . . it’s like self-awareness. It’s really finding out what makes you tick, what’s bothering you. Kind of I guess, just looking at where you are now and where you want to be, and what your gaps are and why you’re not there. I took a lot away from it. And it wasn’t just about the “H”, but more about your self. Pain’s the way I thought about myself actually. And I think about other people, too. I think a lot of it was some of the exercises we went through. I guess opened my eyes. I was feeling kind of alone and disconnected, a lot of different things. I didn’t know whether I could do it, but I guess I just have a whole different prospective on

This interview is meant to spur your curiosity and offer a different perspective on the herpes conversation. This audio is free for your personal use only and does not constitute medical treatment, medical care or medical advice. It is for entertainment, education and opinion purposes only. Want to contribute your personal story to this conversation? Please email hello@thehopp.com.

This interview is meant to spur your curiosity and offer a different perspective on the herpes conversation. This audio is free for your personal use only and does not constitute medical treatment, medical care or medical advice. It is for entertainment, education and opinion purposes only. Want to contribute your personal story to this conversation? Please email hello@thehopp.com.

This interview is meant to spur your curiosity and offer a different perspective on the herpes conversation. This audio is free for your personal use only and does not constitute medical treatment, medical care or medical advice. It is for entertainment, education and opinion purposes only. Want to contribute your personal story to this conversation? Please email hello@thehopp.com.

This interview is meant to spur your curiosity and offer a different perspective on the herpes conversation. This audio is free for your personal use only and does not constitute medical treatment, medical care or medical advice. It is for entertainment, education and opinion purposes only. Want to contribute your personal story to this conversation? Please email hello@thehopp.com.

This interview is meant to spur your curiosity and offer a different perspective on the herpes conversation. This audio is free for your personal use only and does not constitute medical treatment, medical care or medical advice. It is for entertainment, education and opinion purposes only. Want to contribute your personal story to this conversation? Please email hello@thehopp.com.

When first diagnosed with herpes, there’s an overwhelming feeling of being contagious and dirty … a sneaky suspicion that quarantine may be necessary. We need to start getting real with our priorities. The harsh stigma of herpes grossly misrepresents herpes itself.

All too often we tend to automatically identify with all the negatives about herpes. All those ways that herpes shows up as a block to happiness, fulfillment and pleasure seem to automatically bubble up in our heads. Being proactive around unblocking all of that is what these four reminders are all about. Use these reminders to say to yourself with all sincerity “You’re okay.”

It seems that it is human nature to compare. It’s definitely ego-driven, in order to see if we’re adequately keeping up with the Joneses — to make sure that we’re “stacking up.” We compare others’ experiences to our own hoping to see common ground. Let's think before we compare, especially when it comes to herpes.

A sizzling sexy relationship — even contending with herpes — is in your future. And it all starts with your relationship to what herpes means to your sex life. 1) Is herpes a sex killer or 2) does herpes give a new perspective on trust, caring and support in relationship? Can you feel that difference? That is the first part of seeing it as a relationship strengthener. Sound a bit backwards? You’re gonna love this.

Do you see herpes as a dead weight in your life? Is herpes dragging you down with each step? If we don’t put awareness into our relationship with herpes, it will drag us down, much like if you were to strap a few hundred pounds of dumbbells to you and walk around life denying the weight’s existence. But where do people actually seek out weight in their lives?

The victim mentality means that you blame everyone else for what happens in your world. Identifying as a victim can arise with anything in our lives, but the initial stress and denial that a herpes diagnosis can trigger leaves the door wide open for the victim role to step in.

Who am I? What am I? Am I my personality? Am I the successes in my life? Am I the failures? Am I some combination of all of that? I’m starting to realize that all of those questions are secondary to the primary question of simply being. Herpes has been just one tool in my life for helping me recognize this on a deeper level.