Anne-Marie's story: 'I felt empowered by the knowledge I gained.'

Anne-Marie's story: 'I felt empowered by the knowledge I gained.'

I contacted the HVA a few years back after my diagnosis. The first few weeks after diagnosis, I felt alone and confused and didn’t know where to look for help with what I was going through. Luckily, I came across the HVA helpline. Though I am in my late 40s, HSV isn’t something that I have ever seen spoken about, especially considering the unadventurous lifestyle I lived, so my knowledge on the subject was very limited.

After diagnosis, I phoned the HVA and spoke to the lady on the phone, still in a state of limbo from all the mixed emotions and lack of knowledge I had on the subject.

It was very pleasant to get advice on the subject without being scrutinised, patronised, or judged over the phone. It was nice to know that there is such an organisation that helps you understand what you can’t see at the time of diagnosis. I felt a sense of relief, as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I felt empowered again by the knowledge I gained—how to deal with it from the contagious, stigmatic viewpoint, and to know it isn’t that bad. Once you’ve got it sussed, you can carry on living your life.

But I didn’t think about what would happen when it came to having partners — until I faced a scenario where I was chatted up and thought, ‘Oh no, how do I deal with this?’ So, the next day, I phoned the helpline again and discovered you can still continue being in a relationship once you meet the right person who understands you and your diagnosis.