Taking Care of your Mental Health after an STD diagnosis
Having the courage to go for an STD/STI test is one thing, and waiting for the result is another. However, it is a whole different feeling when you find out to be positive of sexually transmitted disease.
Even though STDs are available in various types and not all of them are as serious as others, they have some level of shame and stigma attached to them.
Regardless of whether you have chronic or curable STD, you will still feel some weight of shame on you. If you test positive for an STD, you just have to face it and deal with it as a reality.
Though the subject may seem scary, managing your emotional and mental health is vital after getting STI/STD diagnosis. This post outlines tips you can use to help you manage and treat sexually transmitted diseases.
Read on!
What is mental health?
Mental health is a state of mental wellbeing where a person is able to realize his/her abilities, can cope with stress, work productively and make a contribution to the community.
It is the foundation of our personal and collective ability as human beings to think, move, earn a living, interact with others, and enjoy life.
Determinants of mental health
The level of mental health of a person is determined by several social, psychological, and biological factors.
Poor mental health has also been associated with frequent social change, stressful work environments, poor physical health, gender discrimination, and human rights violations.
Tips to help you take care of your mental health after an STD diagnosis.
- Collect information and feed your mind.
After receiving the bad “news,” the first thing you should do is gather information about the particular STD/STI. Learn about the disease as this will not only help you but the people around you too.
Also, research your STD, how you can transfer it, how you can avoid spreading it to others in your life. By knowing the facts about the disease, your brain broadens, and ultimately you feel less ashamed of yourself.
- Accept your feelings and know it is okay to be upset.
Coming to terms with a positive STD test result is no fun; it can be uncomfortable, painful, and embarrassing. It is easy to get angry and feel bad about yourself.
However, bottled-up feelings usually do not end up in a good way. Once you are confirmed positive, allow your emotions out. As much as we want to be strong for ourselves and our loved ones, we are also human beings.
Do not strain yourself to staying positive or being ‘okay’ immediately after receiving the news. Allow yourself some time and let the process follow its course until the end.
Generally, the perfect way of maintaining good mental and emotional health is nurturing feelings and not hiding, controlling, or stifling them.
- Don’t put yourself down.
After going through the healing and acceptance process, do not stop your life; move on to the next step in life. Having an STD doesn’t make you less of a person.
Doing what you love doing can help with easy recovery. Staying active not only gets your mind away from the situation but also lifts your moods, boosts your appetite and the quality of your sleep.
Remember, being positive of STDs/STIs does not compromise your sexual ability and history; it only means that you need to practice safe sex. And the best way of being sure of your status is to go for an annual STI screening. You can do this as part of regular visits to your health care provider.
- Inform your partner.
A positive STD test result always comes as a shock, regardless of your relationship status. This makes it hard to start a conversation about a sexually related disease.
However, understanding that it is normal to start a conversation, you will begin to feel relieved and remain positive.
And while these conversations might be painful and less comfortable, it is best to face the reality head-on. Stand up and take the honest step, regardless of your partner’s reaction to the news.
- Get support from people who matter.
Persons who test positive for sexually transmitted infections may require strong advice and support during their recovery process. And while this can be effective on others as a release mechanism, releasing this type of sensitive information is difficult.
Reach out for support and discuss the situation with people of the same status, your loved ones, family, and friends. Do not avoid people around you as their love, care, and compassion will help you breeze through the treatment.
Remember, anytime you are about to take an STD test or even after getting the result, try to be around people who will offer love, care, and support immediately.
People can provide prompt help in case the news resulted in a shock or a heart attack. They can also be a great source of strength during these trying moments and help you take care of your mental health.
- Take good care of yourself.
After a positive STD test result, your whole being can receive a shock and drive you into making irrational decisions. Therefore, it is vital to take extra care of yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally.
Apart from drugs and treatments, you will be given by your GP. It is also vital to avoid exposing yourself to risk factors. Practice safe sex, immerse yourself into a favorite hobby or anything that makes you feel good.
Conclusion
Like other diseases, most sexually transmitted disease is curable and goes away with the proper medical and self-care. However, the news may present some shame and stigma, making you feel bad about yourself.
Therefore, taking care of your mental health and your general wellbeing is vital in ensuring you stay positive and active throughout the recovery period. Accept your feelings, feed your mind, get support from people who matter to you, and don’t put yourself down.
Remember, being positive of STDs/STIs does not make you a lesser person, and it is not the end of the world for you. Keep doing what you enjoy and face reality with the courage to remain strong and active at all times.
Written by
Beril Miller