Courtney Brame founded Something Positive for Positive People after his own herpes diagnosis and through his non-profit and podcast, he shares real stories and resources for people with positive STI diagnoses. He joins us to discuss shame, stigma, dating, suicide prevention and more including: How he felt when he was first diagnosed How he navigated the dating world post-diagnosis How people respond when he shares his positive status How to disclose to a new partner How herpes serves as a compass for the body and self-care The costs of herpes jokes How we can reduce the shame and stigma How to build a support system after a diagnosis Check out the Something Positive for Positive People Podcast. Follow Courtney on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. This podcast has been sponsored by Let’sGetChecked. Use code DRJESS to save at checkout!           Rough Transcript: This is a computer-generated rough transcript, so please excuse any typos. This podcast is an informational conversation and is not a substitute for medical, health or other professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the services of an appropriate professional should you have individual questions or concerns. EPISODE 198: Dating with Herpes: Disclosure, Stigma & Healing (00:05): You're listening to the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast. Sex and relationship advice you can use tonight. Brandon (0:18): Welcome to the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast, I'm your co host Brandon Ware here with my always lovely other half, Dr Jess. Dr. Jess (0:26): Feeling somewhat lovely this morning. I feel like we're getting into our 2021 groove. And you know if we go back to the Dionne Roberts podcast on rest, I've been getting more rest and sleep than I ever have in my life. I think I'm growing. I think I'm an inch taller. Brandon (0:41): I'm gonna attribute it in all seriousness to shutting my phone off earlier, making that commitment. And I've been trying to stick to it in 2021. I mean we're only a short time into that, but having that alarm set on my phone or whatever the setting is, to shut off my phone, is really I think helping me sleep. Dr. Jess (01:01): So we're getting more sleep, but my sleeps are a little bit tormented. I feel like my body is still adjusting to this whole eight hours plus sleep, like I think my body was more used to five and now it's like after five hours, even though we're going to bed earlier, I'm waking up. But I think it's getting us into a groove. I don't know it feels good in the body. Brandon (01:21): I agree. It feels good. Almost embarrassed to admit how early we have gone to bed some nights Dr. Jess (01:25): Don't tell the people. Brandon (01:27): We used to have dinner later. Dr. Jess (01:29): We used to go to remember, we used to make fun of the people who went to the club before eleven when we were young? Brandon (01:35): You're going to the club at at ten thirty, eleven? What’s wrong with you? Dr. Jess (01:40): Now, we’re fast asleep, fourth cycle of REM. I don’t know how that works, so don’t quote me on that. Today, we are going to be chatting with an old friend of the podcast who is really doing incredible work in this field via his nonprofit organization, "Something Positive for Positive People". And so he helps to provide therapy and support to folks who are diagnosed with herpes, and other STIs. And through his podcast, he shares his own story of diagnosis and the stories of other people who are diagnosed. And if you tune in or follow Courtney, his name's Courtney Brame, on instagram, you’ll quickly learn that, you know really like the worst symptom of herpes and STI diagnosis is really the stigma and the shame. Because he shares and he receives countless messages from people who are devastated, and believe that you know their lives and dating lives are over after a herpes diagnosis.