Podcast Summary: Something Positive for Positive People
Episode: SPFPP 362 – "Gratitude for Herpes: There is Light in There Too"
Release Date: January 5, 2025
Host: Courtney Brame

Introduction

In episode SPFPP 362 of the Something Positive for Positive People podcast, host Courtney Brame delves deep into the transformative journey of Melissa, a yoga instructor and long-time member of the SPFPP community. Titled "Gratitude for Herpes: There is Light in There Too," this episode explores the intersections of sexual health, mental health, and personal growth, offering listeners profound insights into overcoming stigma and embracing one's truth.

Courtney Brame’s Opening Remarks [00:03]

Courtney begins by reiterating the mission of Something Positive for Positive People (SPFPP), a nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to support individuals living with herpes and combating the associated stigma. She shares key statistics from their ongoing research, highlighting that 36% of survey respondents experience suicidal ideation following a herpes diagnosis.

Quote:
"We're figuring it out... help with minimizing its impacts from the psychological perspective, which also go on to help the physical perspective."
— Courtney Brame [00:03]

Courtney also announces upcoming initiatives, including a collaboration with a healthcare organization in Phoenix, Arizona, funded by the Love in Action fund, aimed at training healthcare professionals to deliver herpes diagnoses with empathy and reduced stigma.

Introducing Melissa: A Personal Journey [04:12]

Melissa joins the podcast as Courtney’s first yoga therapy client, eager to share her experiences navigating a herpes diagnosis and the accompanying emotional turbulence.

Melissa's Motivation:
Melissa expresses her excitement about living her truth and hopes her story can help others feel less isolated. She emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in her journey.

Quote:
"This gives me a wonderful opportunity to live my truth... it’s okay."
— Melissa [04:12]

The Spark to Yoga Therapy [06:04]

Courtney inquires about what brought Melissa into yoga therapy. Melissa explains her background as a yoga instructor who has relied on yoga to navigate personal challenges. However, upon discovering yoga therapy, she sought a deeper connection between mind, body, and spirit to aid her healing process.

Quote:
"Connecting, truly connecting mind, body and spirit together is what yoga is all about."
— Melissa [06:57]

Melissa highlights that yoga therapy offered her a unique approach, combining movement with deep emotional work, distinguishing it from traditional yoga classes and other forms of therapy she had previously experienced.

The Stars Framework: Building Relationship Foundations [14:58]

Courtney introduces the Stars framework, developed by Dr. Eveline Dacker, a board member of SPFPP. The acronym stands for Safety, Turn-ons, Avoids, Relationship Intention, and STI Status. This tool helps individuals articulate their needs and preferences in relationships, fostering healthier and more compatible partnerships.

Quote:
"She said something so important about being able to developed without going into postures or yoga, but something else where we communicate. So the concept of vulnerability and how that's needed and that's pivotal."
— Courtney Brame [17:47]

Melissa shares how working through the Stars framework enabled her to create a personal mission statement for relationships, allowing her to recognize and break free from repetitive, unfulfilling patterns.

Quote:
"It was truly amazing... I came away with how I seek relationship or how I'm in relationship with people."
— Melissa [17:47]

Navigating Emotions: Anger, Shame, and Grief [25:42]

The conversation deepens as Courtney and Melissa explore the complex emotions triggered by a herpes diagnosis. Melissa discusses feelings of embarrassment, shame, and anger, particularly stemming from her past relationship dynamics and the challenges of re-entering the dating world after a long marriage.

Quote:
"I just wanted healing... yoga therapy just offered something to allow me to go deeper, and it turned out to be something way more healing than I knew in the beginning."
— Melissa [08:18]

Courtney empathizes, sharing her own experiences with embarrassment and relief when disclosing her status to past partners, emphasizing the shared emotional landscape among those living with herpes.

Quote:
"You're more supported than you probably think you are."
— Courtney Brame [29:22]

Melissa reveals how yoga therapy helped her manage and reduce her anger through practical techniques like journaling, humming exercises, and specific breathing methods.

Quote:
"The humming exercise that you gave me where you just hum as you roll your head... was very helpful."
— Melissa [32:08]

Personal Growth and Healing [38:54]

Melissa reflects on how her herpes diagnosis catalyzed a broader personal transformation. Through yoga therapy, she gained clarity on long-standing patterns in her relationships, particularly the need for reciprocal vulnerability, something she had struggled with in her 30-year marriage.

Quote:
"Without herpes, I was still continuing in the same patterns of relationship... yoga therapy helped me to see that pattern."
— Melissa [48:20]

Courtney highlights the therapeutic nature of their sessions, likening them more to therapy than traditional yoga, which fosters a safe space for emotional exploration and healing.

Quote:
"Healing happening... you can be okay in your body and out in the world."
— Courtney Brame [38:12]

Implications for Listeners: Reducing Stigma and Embracing Support [52:55]

As the conversation winds down, Melissa expresses her hope that sharing her story will alleviate feelings of isolation among listeners and reduce the stigma surrounding herpes.

Quote:
"I want them to feel like I'm not the only one... the less of stigma it will become, the more."
— Melissa [52:55]

Courtney echoes this sentiment, encouraging listeners to seek community and support through SPFPP’s resources, emphasizing that shared experiences can heal and empower.

Conclusion and Call to Action [59:22]

Courtney wraps up the episode by reminding listeners of the various resources SPFPP offers, including donation-based yoga therapy sessions, support calls, and opportunities to share their stories on the podcast. She encourages ongoing participation in the community to foster a supportive and stigma-free environment for all individuals affected by herpes.

Final Thoughts:
Both Courtney and Melissa express gratitude for the healing journey they’ve embarked on together, underscoring the importance of community, vulnerability, and self-acceptance in overcoming personal and societal challenges.

Key Takeaways

• Embracing Vulnerability: Openly sharing personal experiences can reduce stigma and foster a supportive community.
• Holistic Healing: Combining physical practices like yoga with emotional and cognitive therapies can lead to profound personal growth.
• Tools for Relationships: Frameworks like Stars help individuals articulate their needs, promoting healthier and more compatible relationships.
• Managing Emotions: Practical techniques such as journaling and specific breathing exercises can effectively manage difficult emotions like anger and shame.
• Community Support: Organizations like SPFPP play a crucial role in providing resources and fostering a sense of belonging for those affected by herpes.

Notable Quotes

• Courtney Brame [00:03]:
  "Something Positive for Positive People supports people who are living with herpes and navigating herpes stigma."

• Melissa [04:12]:
  "This gives me a wonderful opportunity to live my truth... it’s okay."

• Melissa [08:18]:
  "I knew I wanted healing... yoga therapy just offered something to allow me to go deeper."

• Courtney Brame [29:22]:
  "You're more supported than you probably think you are."

• Melissa [48:20]:
  "Without herpes, I was still continuing in the same patterns of relationship... yoga therapy helped me to see that pattern."

Resources Mentioned

• Podcast Website: spfpp.org
  Explore services, resources, and education tools designed to support individuals living with herpes.

• Yoga Therapy Services: Available on a donation basis. For more information or to schedule a session, visit spfpp.org/yoga-therapy.

• Herpes Disclosure and Stigma Workshop: Facilitated by Courtney Brame, details available on the podcast website.

• 2025 Herpes Stigma Survey: Participation encouraged to aid in ongoing research and advocacy efforts. Accessible through the podcast website.

Final Thoughts

Episode SPFPP 362 serves as a beacon of hope and resilience for individuals navigating the complexities of a herpes diagnosis. Through Melissa’s heartfelt narrative and the supportive framework provided by Courtney, listeners are encouraged to embrace their journeys, seek out supportive communities, and redefine their relationships with themselves and others. This episode not only sheds light on the personal struggles associated with herpes but also highlights the transformative power of vulnerability, holistic therapy, and community support.