Propagatorka wiedzy na temat chorób przenoszonych drogą płciową

Lana Linge, a 28-year-old from Vancouver, Washington, concealed her diagnosis for a decade, fearing the stigma that might come from her family and friends. However, she recently decided to break free from secrecy and took her transparency to the next level by openly discussing her herpes diagnosis, even sharing her journey on social media. Her TikTok video garnered a whopping 3.4 million views, demonstrating the power of open and honest conversations about STIs. Talking about her diagnosis, Lana shared: "I woke up one morning to an outbreak on my genitals. My first outbreak was pretty bad as I had multiple sores." Lana admitted she knew deep down what the sores were but scheduled a doctor's appointment, hoping she was wrong. She was told she had herpes that same day. "I contracted herpes from a man I trusted. I had asked him if he had been tested for STIs, and he said he had, but I never verified the test results," she reflected. "The moment I received my herpes diagnosis was nothing short of devastating. There was a Lana before I contracted herpes and a Lana after. It felt like my entire world stopped. I knew things would never be the same, ever again." Growing up in a conservative Christian household with minimal sex education, Lana's understanding of sexual safety was severely limited. "I was pulled from sex ed in school because my parents didn't want me to learn about sex. In my late teens, I didn't think of using contraceptives." For eight long years, Linge kept her diagnosis hidden from everyone, sharing this burden only with her sister and intimate partners. "I carried immense shame," Lana admitted. "It made me feel dirty, gross, undesirable, you name it. Disclosure conversations were the most terrifying thing in the world to me. My self-esteem suffered, causing me to date low calibre men I believed would accept me, rather than pursuing relationships that truly aligned with my values." Navigating relationships with herpes added another layer of complexity to Lana's life. Disclosure conversations were fraught with anxiety, and at times, she even ended relationships before they could progress to a sexual stage out of fear. "Sometimes, it would prevent me from even pursuing a relationship with someone because I was too scared," Lana admitted. "But, over time, I found that building confidence in myself allowed me to approach these conversations differently. I have gotten to a point where I no longer hope a new love interest will accept me. I openly tell them I have herpes before the relationship progresses, and whether they choose to leave or stay is up to them." Fortunately, Lana's outbreaks have become less frequent over the years, with some even stopping altogether, but she still takes medication when seeing a new partner as an 'extra precaution'. Eight years into her diagnosis, Lana is not only in a place where having herpes doesn't impact the way she feels about herself but is also dedicated to helping others battling STIs know they are not alone. "I have been on an intensive healing journey where I am examining all of the things in my life that bring me shame. I started my podcast (Your Inner Spark) earlier this year and speak about things I've experienced, such as sexual assault and my past with an eating disorder. I have found that when I use my voice and speak publicly about these things, the less shame I feel over them. Herpes, however, was something that felt like a whole different level of shame, and I thought there was no way I would speak openly about that topic," explained Lana. "My decision changed when I found out that two of my girlfriends in my close circle were also hsv positive, and it broke my heart that we didn't feel safe enough to tell each other before. If there were two people in my close circle also struggling, how many others are there out there? At the end of October, I released a podcast episode basically telling the entire world I had herpes, and I was done being ashamed of it. I wanted to start a conversation around it. I wanted others to know that this doesn't make them less worthy. I wanted others to know they didn't need to be ashamed. Doing this also helped me reclaim my power surrounding this virus. " Lana's journey of truth also led her to TikTok, where her videos openly discussing herpes resulted in a flood of messages from others with the same diagnosis. Many admitted they, too, were too scared or ashamed to speak openly about their experiences. "It really showcased to me how much more education and support we need out there because it truly is impacting so many of us," said Lana. "My goal is to continue these conversations and create a supportive community where individuals living with herpes can find understanding, acceptance, and a sense of belonging." Featuring: Lana Linge Where: Vancouver, Washington, United States When: 04 Jan 2024 Credit: @yourinnersparkpod/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**