One of the elements of being diagnosed with an STI that can often go overlooked is the repercussions on a person’s mental wellbeing.
Us blokes can still be pretty belligerent when it comes to talking about our “feelings” but chaps, there is simply not one scrap of shame in talking about how being diagnosed with an STI is making you feel in your mind.
Here is some advice for how to give your head a little TLC during a tough time like this.
Don’t suffer in silence
It sounds like a total cliché, but chaps a problem shared is honestly a problem halved – or maybe not halved, but sharing certainly takes some of the anxiety burden away!
Reach out to a friend or loved one for support. Though they may be powerless to do anything in terms of helping you cure the STI, their emotional support will be invaluable.
Reaching out to your GP for emotional support will also help you navigate through treating and curing the STI that you have.
Educate yourself – Knowledge is power
This may sound like one of the last things you feel like doing after hearing the bad news that you’ve got an STI, but part of dealing with the worries that might come with it is better understanding the ins and outs.
Whether you’re single or in a relationship, this is a good place to start – if you are together with someone, educating yourself will prevent any risk of infecting your partner and if you’re single, simply knowing what’s going on will help you feel less in the dark and you’ll protect any future partners.
Keep a close eye on my blog chaps, as Chappie is always looking to shed light on STIs to help you guys out.
Don’t stop doing the things you love
Being diagnosed might make you feel like life is over until you’re through the other side – chaps, this simply isn’t true. Sure, initially it’s totally normal to take a break from real life for a couple of days but getting back into the swing of life will actually help you boost serotonin and take your mind off everything.
If you’re reading this and you’ve just been diagnosed with an STI, I honestly hope this has helped. I can’t stress how important it is to reach out to someone you trust chaps – this is possibly the most important pointer on the list. Please feel free to tweet me if you have any questions or worries concerning what you’ve read in this blog. I’m here alongside you lads!