A lady has revealed how she began having suicidal thoughts following a brief phone call with a health care provider.
Annaleise Easlea thought she had cut herself shaving and it wasn’t healing across the time she was meant to have an everyday check-up.
“The doctor agreed they thought it was a cut from shaving but she swabbed it for herpes,” Easlea told news.com.au.
Per week later, Easlea was told she needed to schedule a follow up appointment.
She was nervous as, often with these tests, no news is sweet news.
She booked a telehealth appointment as she couldn’t fathom being told what she suspected face-to-face.
“I had the decision the following day and he told me I used to be positive for HSV-2 and just about ended the conversation, besides talking to me about antivirals,” Easlea said.
“I hung up the phone and I just broke. It felt like right away I used to be forced to grieve the life I had and not using a lifelong diagnosis and compelled to simply accept something that a whole lot of people don’t have an understanding about it.”
HSV is the Herpes Simplex Virus and causes a viral skin condition often called HSV1 and HSV2.
HSV1 is spread through oral contact and is more commonly often called cold sores.
It could also cause genital herpes through oral to genital contact.
HSV2 is often called genital herpes and is transmitted by sexual contact.
The World Health Organisation said 3.7 billion people under 50 have HSV-1 and 491 million people between 15 and 49 have HSV-2, as of April 2023.
Easlea felt shocked and a deep sadness over her diagnosis, particularly due to misinformation about herpes and the actual fact nobody talks about it.
When she discovered her diagnosis in May 2023, it was per week before she launched her book Keep Swimming.
It was already a difficult time so she pushed down and got on with what she needed to do.
“In any case the joy around that began to wear off, that’s when the diagnosis really got here front of mind again. It got worse before it got higher,” she said.
“I actually began to struggle with suicidal ideation again.”
Her book was on mental health and she or he had been through some rough periods in her life – she’d been a part of and left the navy after six years, she’d also left her marriage to concentrate on her mental health.
But something about this particular news had a good grip on her.
Although she wasn’t indignant at the one who’d passed herpes onto her.
“I can say possibly they didn’t confide in me but it surely’s highly likely these people may not have ever known that they had it, or their symptoms were so mild they thought it was something else,” she said,
“It’s not likely anyone’s fault unless someone is intentionally doing that.”
As an alternative, she mourned the life she had imagined for herself, fearing that her diagnosis would result in a future crammed with confusion and judgment from others.
Only a day before her thirtieth birthday trip to Thailand, Easlea found herself suddenly uncertain if she could even board the plane.
It felt as if there was no future ahead for her.
So, she did what she all the time did when she needed to clear her head – she went for a drive.
Driving for 3 hours, she debated whether she should board the plane.
During her drive, an email arrived from a girl who had attended her book launch.
The lady expressed gratitude for her candid speech about mental health, mentioning that it had helped her higher support her son through his depression.
“That email jogged my memory of the ability I actually have using my voice to show my pain into my purpose and help others through it,” she said.
“I had this light bulb moment where I realised if my voice was still having an impact a month after her book launch, then possibly that’s why I had herpes because I can’t sit still knowing how much it impacts people’s mental health.
“There are such a lot of people suffering in silence because they feel they’ll’t consult with anyone.”
She decided to board the plane to Thailand.
While on the flight, she wrote about her diagnosis and shared it with a friend.
This friend then passed it on to another person diagnosed with herpes, who found it very helpful.
She then decided to go public along with her sexual health status to proceed supporting others through the use of her lived experience.
Now, she is using her voice to boost awareness and debunk misconceptions about herpes.
She emphasises that while physical symptoms could also be concerning, the mental impact is commonly probably the most difficult.
Easlea notes that doctors typically offer minimal details about support services or general STI education.
She advocates for those diagnosed with the condition to also receive referrals to psychologists or sexologists to assist navigate the initial shock and trauma.
“It’s not something that defines them, they usually can learn to live and thrive with HSV. It is feasible because I’m doing it,” she said.
Easlea, who’s taking a break from dating, said there have been advantages to having herpes, reminiscent of it acting as a dating filter when having conversations about it.
She said it also helped keeping track of your mental and physical wellbeing, because it often flared up in periods of stress.
Easlea encouraged people to undergo regular STI testing while also reminding them that a positive diagnosis doesn’t signal the tip of the world.
Dr Mitchell Tanner, the co-founder of Stigma Health, said early detection was essential to assist lessen potential, longer-term risks.
“Greater than a 3rd of Stigma Health’s patients using the asynchronous telehealth option are first-time STI testers which proves the worth of discreet access – these are hundreds of people that may not have sought out testing otherwise,” he said.
“Access to STI testing and sexual health services in a non-judgemental and online environment is critical to the uplift of testing rates in Australia.”
When you are scuffling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in Recent York City, you may call 1-888-NYC-WELL totally free and confidential crisis counseling. When you live outside the five boroughs, you may dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.