Kim has been an admin for some of the alternative social support groups you’ve heard me talk about, or you’ve seen me post footage of on Instagram whenever I’ve been able to make it out. She speaks to her experience not only serving the community behind the scenes as an administrator and event planner, but as a member of them as well.

We touch on her self care practices to minimize potential for compassion fatigue/burnout. She hosts an event, then indulges in another event. One big takeaway from this episode is relevant to anyone extending support to others. It’s important to establish a network of like-minded people or individuals who share your passion and are just as invested in the community as you are. It’s important that as sources of support, we have our own sources for support as well.

There are at least a couple dozen Kim’s out here behind the scenes who will never get the kind of praise, love, attention, or social status I’ve acquired given my privilege to be open about my herpes status. I want to acknowledge this and speak to just how much work goes in to what it is people who volunteer their time to us endure as community is built and held together. I think I do the easy thing, along with other people who are on the forefront of speaking out against herpes stigma. We get quick engagements where people come get what they need from us and go on for the most part. We represent the community. It’s people like Kim who ‘recruit’, welcome, support, and hold community together inspiring advocacy from within through the social support networks that have been created.

Some people don’t need the services offered by Something Positive for Positive People. Maybe they already listen to the podcast, have a therapist, don’t struggle with disclosure, but just need something they can’t speak to. I recommend checking into these social support communities. They’ve added to my own confidence being open about my status. They also contribute to my “why” in a way. Knowing so many people wish they could do more but can’t due to the chokehold stigma has on some of us. With every sharing of status, with every support system tapped into, we create allies. Those allies begin to advocate for us in spaces we don’t feel safe to. The greater the allyship, the softer the stigma.