Video Transcription

Youth yarn about How to get over the shame of STI testing

What made me want to go for a checkup was, um, and what made me feel comfortable, was that, look, if they’re not going to know what’s wrong with me, then how do I know what’s wrong with me? Like, I could have something killing me inside that I wouldn’t know about. The shame, because they think that it’s going to get out, and it’s not, because it’s all confidential. You just—it’s between you and your doctor. And I think because I went down the first time, now I’m not afraid or shy to go again. I know now for a fact that it’s a good thing, and yeah, for my personal health, and hopefully everybody else feels the same.

You’re not the only one that they know that’s got this, if it’s a, you know, sexual health or an STI, whatnot, issue. Then everyone’s got it or had it or, you know, experienced it. The thing about getting a checkup is people need to get rid of the whole shame thing and make it common, like walking in and getting something from the shop, you know, like going in and buying a drink. It’s normal, and I think we need to normalize that getting checkups.

Shame is just in my pocket coming out to feel comfortable for yourself. You need to look at that fear of shame and just—you need to imagine things to make it more like—to take that away from you to check it out. If you can do that yourself, then you’re good at that. You don’t have to be necessarily ashamed because everyone goes in there. Everyone, you know, either might have an STI or something else wrong with them, but they’re just there to help.

I just think, yeah, you just gotta try and get past that barrier and build that confidence up to actually just do it. Like, I learned to not care about what others think, you know, and before, and that’s where I got my confidence, like that time. So, you do have to go in and talk about it and bite the bullet, even ashamed as it is. But, you know, it’s confidential, you know, it’s one-on-one. No one else is going to know. It’s just you and the doctor.

Yeah, I know it’s hard and it’s easier said than done, but, um, you know, you’re going to the doctor for the right reason or the health clinic, you know. And you don’t always have to be open and tell your family if you don’t feel comfortable. You can say you’re there for a checkup. You don’t have to say what for, but, um, yeah, I think be confident.

Yeah, well, when I feel shame, I’ll just, you know, just say, “Well, you know, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You know, everyone’s the same.” And, um, yeah, you know, at the end of the day, you’re just—you’re looking after yourself. You’re the priority of yourself, and be proud of it. Never be ashamed of, you know, whatever people say, because, yeah, it means nothing to me, and I just keep moving forward. And yeah.

Video by youngdeadlyfree.org.au