Sexual Health Buzz

Angela, thanks for the info…

Here is a rant I just sent off to the publishers of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and its companion book “The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make.”

I AM SOOOOO PISSED–PLEASE SOUND THE ALARM!

I am the aunt of teenaged boy who is struggling with issues related to drug use and sexual activity–and I bought your book hoping to help him. Naturally I read it first.

Let me cut to the chase: as a medical social worker and therapist, I am OUTRAGED at the nonsensical, judgment-laden entry concerning herpes. Herpes are “gross”? It is “extraordinarily painful and humiliating”?

And finally–the information about infected mothers is a half-truth at best. HOW DARE YOU!! Are you the DIRECT heir to Puritanical garbage? I work to help teens lessen their hysteria about herpes–some get suicidal about getting what amounts (in most of the world by the way) to no more than a skin irritation–

What you are essentially saying to kids who read this–hey, if you already have herpes–your life will suck–and you may kill your babies. And to those “non-infected” (there may be about two of those left)–they should truly give up a partner if they find out that this person has herpes. “If you are shocked and grossed out a little by all this stuff–good.”?

YOU may have blood on your hands for this kind of holier than thou education. Shame on you. I am not done here–I intend to take this info to herpes advocate sites and other media.

And, oh, by the way, I have oral and genital herpes. I’ve dated others with it–I have friends in long marriages with it–in fact, those of us who KNOW we have it are MUCH less likely to pass it on–but even then–SO WHAT?? It is NOT NOT NOT a major disease.

Shame on you. Obviously, I did NOT give my nephew your book. And every teen client I have will know what book NOT to read.

ARRGGGHHH! – M