Episode 66: Living Life with Herpes: Alexandra Harbuska

The topic of STIs is often accompanied with shame. It is also accompanied with the idea that a person was careless and promiscuous. However, that is not how STIs work. Sexual Health Education in our country is starting to change for the better, but is still very far behind in the aspect that we are not making it widely available, nor is it always accurate. This is one of the topics Kara talks about with Alexandra Harbuska, founder of Life with Herpes. Alexandra talks about the myths around STIs and herpes and sheds light on to what we can do to change the conversation and help support those who do have an STI, which affects a lot of people. We need to let go of the stigma associated with STIs and recognize they are a human experience.  Alexandra Harbushka’s life was sent into upheaval when she received a call from her doctor diagnosing her with herpes. Shaking, feeling like her life - her goals, happiness, and desires - had all just gone up in smoke, she was left scared and with a new mission, to share her story with people just like her and to let them know that their feelings are normal, natural, and that they are not victims.  With that mission in mind, she founded Life With Herpes, an online community consisting of a podcast, a website, Youtube channel, wellness products to support the skin condition and an online community that provides support, all dedicated to shattering the stigma of living with herpes. Before founding Life With Herpes and becoming a mother to her son Clinton and a wife to her husband Bill, Alexandra worked in corporate America with roles ranging from Ralph Lauren to selling new home construction to being a mortgage loan officer. Her education includes a bachelor degree from the University of Arizona (Bear Down to my fellow Wildcats!), a postgraduate certificate in Ministry, and is currently working on a masters in Theology. She is also an ordained minister and provides ministry counseling. Learn more about AlexandraYouTube - Life With Herpeswww.lifewithherpes.comwww.instagram.com/lifewithherpes