Talking about your 'cause'

[Jeannie May]

Today there are so many opportunities out there to promote your cause, your service, your support group... my advice is seek them out and make the most of them.

The net is undoubtedly an amazing tool to spread your message and make people aware of what you have to offer, whether it be a support group, a service, or your experience. I hope this site can help all members to spread their message and provide opportunities to utilise the tools available here, and to learn about other online tools which may be of benefit.

'Talking about my cause' is one of the things that I do on a regular basis. I have no shame or fear of talking about genital herpes and the physical and emotional impact it can have on people's lives, or sharing my own personal story and experiences.

Unexpectedly, this ability to talk about herpes as if it was normal (and it is normal, and common BTY) has lead me to places I never dreamt of... the mad world of live TV! Yes, I have braved the cameras and done a live chat show... and I am about to do it again!

On Thursday, 22 May, I am scheduled to appear on Channel 7's Morning Show to chat with hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies about my experiences coming to terms with having herpes.

My aim is to share what it is really like to live with the herpes virus. It's not as bad as some might assume although it certainly does present a few challenges. It's not fatal and often not physically debilitating... it's the emotional issues and the psychological impact which prove the biggest challenge for most people. The most important thing to understand though is that one can deal with the emotional / psychological issues, and you don't have to do it alone!