Stay True To Your Glitter

Having herpes doesn't define who you are. | GHSV-2 + | 22 | female | Ohio |

[defunk-ed]

I’ll never forget the conversation I had with my ex guy friend a few years ago. We were 24. And he was talking about this girl he met at work that he really liked. She was 17.

He was telling me how he liked her, and didn’t want to have sex with her until she was 18, and he just wanted to date her cuz sex would be “wrong”

But here’s what struck me about the conversation. When listing all the things he liked about her, not one of them was ABOUT her. It was about how much she like him and was interested in him and his life in his hobbies. How she found everything he did was amazing and cool.

And here’s where it really hit home for me “she’s not like girls our age” (I guess forgetting he was speaking to a girl his age) But what he meant by that wasn’t that she was special, what he meant was “she’s not old enough to have met more interesting people to compare me to” and “she’s not experienced enough to fight me on my bull shit”

Because of course a teenage girl is gonna find a 24 year old man who has a nice car, a money to pay for things and the freedom to be involved in all his fun hobbies, of course she’s gonna find all that Amazing. Cuz she’s in highschool. Where as “girls his age” expect that. It’s not cool and amazing. Girls his age expect more. Girls his age also aren’t gonna fall for cheesey one liners and compliments, especially not in the same way an insecure still figuring herself out teenage girl is.

And let me tell you, this guy was no “loser” when it came to women. He was popular, good looking, everyone knew him, and for a lack of better words he “got around” But when it came to serious relationships I’m sure he heard a mouthful from the few women he dated “get a stable job so you can move out of your parents house” (and look no shade, the economy is rough but if you’re dating someone and they’re not even looking for jobs it’s annoying and trust me there was no fire under his ass to try) You know who he isn’t gonna hear that from? A teenage girl in highschool.

Thankfully nothing came of this. But what I really want to say, young people, if an older person is interested in you don’t trust them. Especially if you’re in highschool or just getting out of highschool. They don’t think you’re special, they think you’re not gonna be able to see their flaws. They’re trying to feed their ego. Cuz guess what? You are special. And you deserve every opportunity to figure out how goddamn special you are and be able to find someone just as special as you, and find you just as special and be able to have healthy equal relationships with that person. But that person who’s 6, 7- 10 years older than you isn’t interested in how special you are. They’re interested in how special you make them feel. And they will manipulate you to keep it that way.

Older people, keep your friends in check. Like I said, this guy wasn’t a loser, he didn’t have a history of dating young girls, he championed women’s rights, LGBT rights- you name it. White knighted his way past my ability to see thru his facade. Took me way to long to see what a shitty person he was.

[jehovahhthickness]

So important.

[jehovahhthickness]

Had to bring this back and I can’t wait to be this type of mom someday. However, I will urge for my kids to wait a little more to have sex.

[livewithherpes]

What is your risk of transmitting herpes?

Although you must always inform partners of your herpes status, you and your partners may want to know your transmission rates.

Read on how to tell someone you have herpes

You are most likely to spread genital herpes during an outbreak, which is when a sore is present. Herpes is most contagious before, during, and after blisters appear. Check more information about how long after an outbreak is it safe to have sex.

When you are not in an outbreak, you transmission rate is about four to ten percent.

Studies done by Valtrex, a common antiviral medication, state that these are the transmission rates per year of regular sex:

When a partner avoids sex during an outbreak, females to males have 4% chance of transmission and males to females have 8% chance.

When partners use condoms or an antiviral medication, the chance is two percent female to male, and four percent male to female. When partners use condoms and antiviral medications, the risk is one percent female to male and two percent male to female.

It’s okay to delay intimacy for a while if you aren’t okay with the risk or relationship yet. Allow yourself time to know your partner better and adjust to the idea of getting herpes. You never need to rush into sex until you’re ready.

Read on how to have  a safe, fulfilling sex life with herpes

[carldangerous]

Masturbate 👏🏻 that 👏🏻 stress 👏🏻 away 👏🏻

[herpessupport]

Herpes Stats and Facts Sheet

Info on being diagnosed: https://herpesopportunity.com/downloads/herpes-opportunity-diagnosis-handout.pdf

Info on disclosing: https://herpesopportunity.com/downloads/herpes-opportunity-disclosure-handout.pdf

[samoyad]

s/o to all the girls with hairy tummies, hairy arms, hairy knuckles, bushy eyebrows, deep set under-eye circles, and hyper-pigmentation of their skin. s/o to girls with “man-hands,” “masculine-framed bodies,” brown eyed, dark skinned, acne scarred bodies, and stretch-mark scarred bodies. 

i hope that you love yourself as much as i love you and that someday you meet people who love you as much as you love yourself. 

[dan-mcneely-deactivated20210328]

going thru phone pics and found this thing that was tacked up next to the toaster at my old job, if anyone needs some light toast eating reading material

[selfcarepropaganda]

Would anyone be kind enough to transcribe this or link to a text version?

[anxiety-depression-recovery]

Everything Is AWFUL and I’m Not Okay: Questions to Ask Before Giving Up on Yourself

Are you hydrated? 

If not, have a glass of water. Dehydration can mimic or increase feelings associated with anxiety and a well hydrated brain functions optimally. Avoid excess caffeine. 

Have you eaten in the past three hours? 

Don’t be a victim of hanger! Get some food–something with protein, not just simple carbs or high-fat. Nuts, hummus, and veggies are great options to feed your studying brain. Keep healthy snacks within reach to avoid mindlessly chowing down on sweets. 

Have you stretched your legs in the past day? 

If not, do so right now. If you don’t have the energy or time for a run or a trip to the gym, just walk around the block or building. Even minimal exercise preps the mind for learning so that you can focus better and recall things easier, plus it’s good to get a change of scenery. 

Have you said something nice to someone in the past day? 

Do so, whether online or in person. Make it genuine! We bet your study partner would appreciate a compliment. 

Have you moved your body to music in the past day?

If not, jog for the length of a song at your favorite tempo, or just dance around your bedroom for the length of an upbeat song (singing along is a bonus) 

Have you cuddled a living being in the past two days?

If not, do so. Don’t be afraid to ask for hugs from friends of friends’ pets. Most of them will enjoy the cuddles too; you’re not imposing. 

Have you started or changed any medications in the past couple of weeks, including skipped doses or a change in generic prescription brand? 

That may be screwing with your head. Give things a few days, then talk to your doctor if it doesn’t settle down. 

If daytime: are you dressed? 

If no, put on clean clothes that aren’t PJs. Give yourself permission to wear something special, whether it’s a funny t-shirt or a pretty dress. 

If nighttime: are you sleepy and fatigued but resisting going to sleep? 

Put on PJs, make yourself cozy in bed with a teddy bear and the sound of falling rain, and close your eyes for fifteen minutes while focusing on breathing deeper with every breath- no electronic screens allowed! Adequate sleep is a necessity for stress management. 

Do you feel ineffective? 

Pause right now and get something small completed, whether it’s responding to an email, loading the dishwasher, or tidying up your room. Good job!

Do you feel unattractive? 

Take a darn selfie. Your friends will remind you how great you look. You are always insta-worthy. 

Do you feel paralyzed by indecision?

Give yourself ten minutes to sit back and figure out a game plan for the day. If a particular decision or problem is still being a roadblock, simply set it aside for now, and pick something else that seems doable. Right now, the important part is to break through that stasis, even if it means doing something trivial. 

Have you over-exerted yourself lately–physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually? 

That can take a toll that lingers for days. Give yourself a break in that area, whether it’s physical rest, taking some time alone, or relaxing with some silly entertainment for a little. Time spent refreshing yourself is never time “wasted!” 

Have you waited a week? 

Sometimes or perception of life is skewed, and we can’t even tell that we’re not thinking clearly, and there’s no obvious external cause. It happens. Keep yourself going for a full week, whatever it takes, and see if you still feel the same way then. 

You’ve made it this far; and you will make it through. You are stronger than you think.

[chickenwraith-deactivated202403]

[kitty]

[sandersstudies]

Fucking suburb you funky little marshmallow

[1stfrom92]

How men should give head

[crushalot340]

Lmao

[kumonsta93]

That fact that I actually followed this and shit did wonders for me lmao

[kzaketchum-deactivated20170819]

I will save this video. I already knew about the alphabet one but the peach one is new to me

[naturallykinky]

This is so on point

[itzyaboy-dame]

Reblogging again 😂😂

[retired13]

Too funny but true

[mealnin-poppin]

Take note lol

[childhoodruiner]

Please allow this gifset of Jeff Goldblum holding a tiny sleeping puppy to bless your Dashboard.

[untrusteveryone]

SHOUT OUT TO EVERYONE WHO STILL TRIES TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS AFTER DEPRESSION HIT THEM HARD. THERE ISN’T ENOUGH RECOGNITION FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT THEY’RE GOING TO LOSE INTEREST AND MOTIVATION AGAIN BUT PUSH THEMSELVES TO DO STUFF ANYWAYS. YOU ARE FIGHTING A DAILY BATTLE WITH YOUR OWN THOUGHTS AND YOU’RE STILL COMING OUT ON TOP, YOU’RE ALL BRAVE AS FUCK

[millennial-review-deactivated20]

[ted]

Ella Dawson has genital herpes, and she wants to tell you about it. 

She’s not speaking up for the shock value — she’s telling you because she wants all of us to be able to talk about STIs without shame or stigma. When we make it okay to talk about, she says, people are more likely to get tested and less likely to be afraid to share their status. 

In her badass talk at TEDxConnecticut College, Ella tells the story of her diagnosis, how she overcame feeling like “human trash,” and why we need to end the stigma — now. It’s packed with information (and a shot of humor), and if you didn’t already agree with her, you will by the time she’s done.

Watch the full talk or read the transcript here.

(Full disclosure: Ella is TED’s social media manager. This post was written by her boss who is so incredibly proud of how fearlessly she speaks out.)

[tylerct]

OK What the fuck is wrong with this bitch. Getting herpes is most definitely a reflection on a bad decision!!! There is something in this world called condoms!! Oh yeah and they are free at Planned Parenthood so you can’t even use the fucking excuse that they are expensive or your broke so you couldn’t buy any.. Seriously what the fuck I am not saying you have to make it a big deal that you have herpes and have to tell the fucking world but you need/should tell your sexual partner..

[brosandprose]

Hi! That’s me. I’m that bitch. Nothing wrong with me except for an anxiety disorder and a runny nose today.

Here’s a fun fact you should probably know: condoms do not prevent the transmission of herpes. That’s because herpes is transmitted through skin contact, not fluids, and a condom does not cover all of the areas where genital herpes can express itself. Herpes is also often transmitted through oral sex, which most people do not use protection for. Using condoms and dental dams can greatly reduce your risk of getting herpes, but telling people to just use condoms is quite useless advice. I should know—I was a Planned Parenthood volunteer who used condoms religiously when I contracted genital herpes.

Many people do not tell their partners that they have herpes because they do not know they have herpes in the first place. That’s because many people can carry the virus without showing symptoms, and herpes is not tested for in most standard STI tests. But most people have herpes—in fact, according to the World Health Organization, 2 in 3 people in the world have HSV-1, which is the strain of herpes that I have. In all likelihood, you have herpes too. You may have even contracted it from a family member who kissed you on the mouth when you were little. 

I tell all of my partners that I have genital herpes before we have sex because I think they have the right to decide what they want to do with their bodies. I consider it part of obtaining informed consent. My partner who transmitted herpes to me did not give me the option to decide whether or not I wanted to take the risk of contracting the virus, and I think that was probably because he did not know he had the virus. I harbor no ill will towards him for transmitting to me. If he’d disclosed his status to me, I would have fucked him anyway.

Considering the fact that you know that condoms are available for free at Planned Parenthood—and that your tumblr is full of porn GIFs, no judgment!—I hope that you have been tested recently for herpes as well. It requires a blood draw, so if you’ve been peeing in a cup for your STI testing, you don’t know your herpes status. If you test positive for herpes, which you probably will, statistically speaking, I’ve written this guide on what to do after you’ve been diagnosed. I hope you will find it helpful!

Thank you for watching my TEDx talk, which you absolutely made sure to do before calling me a bitch, and have a wonderful evening!

[mariposa-nena-deactivated201911]

DRAGGEDT

[capacity]

She said I’m that bitch….. I’m already gagged I haven’t even finished reading this

[homotology]

This is why I love Ella. She’s smart af, kind, but also ready to drag a bitch should she need to. Queen of telling it like it is; science edition.

[drugdealinmusic]

Why is it that herpes is the butt of everyone’s joke? Annoying.

[plannedparenthood]

People with herpes are PEOPLE, not punchlines.

[sexetc]

Yep. Making jokes about STDs also contributes to the significant stigma against them – which doesn’t encourage people to get treatment and makes it difficult to be open with one’s partners. 

Read: Why Aren’t We Talking about STDs 

[beanedtoes]

Another thing that’s grievously wrong with today’s mainstream feminism/social justice is just the complete inability to name male violence and men as a whole as a problem. It’s always “cis men” or “white men” or “straight boys”. It’s never men.

Earlier on Twitter I saw a quote tweet of a photo of some Italian screen writer or something wearing a shirt that said “Weinstein is innocent” and the person who quote tweeted it ended with “white men really are the worst” and it’s just… an avoidance of naming the problem. If you stick “white” on there, you’re making it a race issue. You’re making it seem like this mans defense of a serial rapist and abuser is because he is white, not because he’s a man. As if black men, Asian men, Latino men, etc would never say such a thing which is just… wrong. And it’s not “problematic” to say that.

It absolves him of responsibility as a man in a way while muddling the conversation, and it takes away our ability to come together and name the source of this problem, which is men. But modern SJ makes naming male violence as a problem “problematic.”

[respectthefemalebody]

You Are Like Other Girls

That hyper feminine girl who loves makeup? She hates her natural face, she feels ignored without wearing it, she is looking for a way to get positive attention from people because humans are social animals and we require it to survive.

That super sugary sweet girl who lets herself get pushed around? She was policed in to that behavior. She is terrified of how people will react if she speaks her mind. She has seen the way girls with strong opinions that differ from the male consensus are called bitches. She doesn’t want to be a bitch.

That girl who says she loves cooking and cleaning? It’s the only way she’s ever achieved a sense of accomplishment. It’s the main thing she was encouraged to get good at doing.

Women who conform to what’s expected of us don’t do it because they were born with “correct” femininity receptors in their brains. We are all doing our best to survive in a patriarchal society, we are all reacting to the environments of our homes, our social circles, our communities.

We are all born as blank slates, and we make our choices on how to behave based on the consequences we are offered and how prepared we are to accept those consequences. We learn what to expect from certain behaviors from observing what happens to those who commit those behaviors, or from being behaviorally reinforced ourselves.

It is more difficult to behave socially out of line than it is to behave socially in line.

Teenagers are right when they call each other “fake” for performing femininity. Because deep down they know the truth, that such behavior is a performance of a societal role, rather than an expression of genuine humanity.

As children we all paint our faces in a wide variety of ways. When children paint their faces, they are expressing joy and creativity. As we get older, we paint our faces to blend in or to attract positive social attention or to express belonging to a subculture (like goth makeup). Our creativity gets cut up in to bite size pieces to fit in to a social sphere. This doesn’t happen because we are born to behave this way, it happens because of the chain of events of our lives.

No human being is born to exist as subservient or meek, no human being is born for the purpose of serving others. No human being is born to be a sacrifice.

Women are human beings. Every woman and girl is a human being.

Every girl you have looked at and thought to yourself, “she’s one of those girls that are nothing like me” is exactly like you, because she is human, because she is a female human existing in the same world as you, under the same pressures as you, and she is doing her best with what she’s got, just like you.

We are all the “other girls” to someone else because men write the narrative of what womanhood means, and as that is the only narrative offered to us, we learn it. We are indoctrinated in to a role of self hatred–which develops in us a hatred of the class we belong to.

Deep down, every woman’s heart beats with the hope of liberation.