I've learned in life that we experience many seasons.
The carefree abandon of childhood is a season. The turmoil and drama of teenage years are a season, that while it seems to last an eternity is truly a short span of our lives.
The ups and downs of adult hood are also a season. Financial hardship, break ups, jobs we hate, the passing of a loved one. While they are hard, difficult, at time emotionally devastating, in most cases the common thread is each of these seasons does indeed pass with time.
I know that when you are first diagnosed with Herpes you feel it's an event so profound you will never move past the feeling you are having right now, this minute. But it I can assure you of one thing, it's this:
The time you are going through right now is indeed a season of life. It's a dark one for sure, just like the shortest and grayest days of winter, but rest assured, without fail, spring always comes.
It will get better and this season in your life will pass.
So take a deep breath, pull your britches up (as my grandma used to say) and look ahead. You might want to consider joining a forum made of others experiencing the same season as you. Make some new friends. Anything to point you in the direction of springtime, because that is where you want to be.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Living With Herpes
I've been living with genital herpes for quite some time. During the years that have passed since I was diagnosed with genital herpes, I've went through many stages.
Diagnosis
Denial
Anger
Withdrawal
Curiosity
Acceptance
Living again.
These are just a few phases, but phases they were and they all passed and became memories. Well except for the living one. I'm still living and doing so just fine. I'm married to a man who does not have Herpes, who never felt it was an issue to any element of our relationship.
While I was transitioning through the different phases I mentioned above, I did allow it to define me, but I realize now it doesn't define me at all. I'm so much more than a woman living with Herpes.
I like to share this one element of myself with you so perhaps your transition is not as bumpy as mine. But I'm still out here in the world doing a whole lot of living.
You can too.
Diagnosis
Denial
Anger
Withdrawal
Curiosity
Acceptance
Living again.
These are just a few phases, but phases they were and they all passed and became memories. Well except for the living one. I'm still living and doing so just fine. I'm married to a man who does not have Herpes, who never felt it was an issue to any element of our relationship.
While I was transitioning through the different phases I mentioned above, I did allow it to define me, but I realize now it doesn't define me at all. I'm so much more than a woman living with Herpes.
I like to share this one element of myself with you so perhaps your transition is not as bumpy as mine. But I'm still out here in the world doing a whole lot of living.
You can too.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Is There A Dating Life After Herpes?
Yes, there is a dating life after you discover you now have Genital Herpes.
However, if you have recently learned you have Herpes, the thought of dating can be daunting and overwhelming. I know.
I remember feeling without a doubt that part of my life was over and I would be celibate for the remainder of my days.
Feel encouraged that it didn't work out that way for me and it doesn't have to for you either. You owe it to yourself to take some time and adjust to living with Herpes. After a time you move on past all of the overwhelming feelings you are experiencing now and begin to realize you are ready to date again.
Whether you meet others the same way you did BH (before Herpes) or choose a dating site that caters solely to others just like you, it helps to know you are not alone in this time of transition.
I dated from a Herpes dating site, but wound up meeting my future Herpes free husband the old fashioned way. What helped me tremendously was joining a site, not to date, but to interact with others just like me. I learned that I wasn't alone, didn't need to feel isolated and that dating didn't have to be a huge hurdle. The forum on that site even prepared me for "the talk" I would have with my future husband.
So to answer your question, "is there a dating life after Herpes?" Yes indeed there is. Don't rush it, prepare yourself and you will know when you are ready.
However, if you have recently learned you have Herpes, the thought of dating can be daunting and overwhelming. I know.
I remember feeling without a doubt that part of my life was over and I would be celibate for the remainder of my days.
Feel encouraged that it didn't work out that way for me and it doesn't have to for you either. You owe it to yourself to take some time and adjust to living with Herpes. After a time you move on past all of the overwhelming feelings you are experiencing now and begin to realize you are ready to date again.
Whether you meet others the same way you did BH (before Herpes) or choose a dating site that caters solely to others just like you, it helps to know you are not alone in this time of transition.
I dated from a Herpes dating site, but wound up meeting my future Herpes free husband the old fashioned way. What helped me tremendously was joining a site, not to date, but to interact with others just like me. I learned that I wasn't alone, didn't need to feel isolated and that dating didn't have to be a huge hurdle. The forum on that site even prepared me for "the talk" I would have with my future husband.
So to answer your question, "is there a dating life after Herpes?" Yes indeed there is. Don't rush it, prepare yourself and you will know when you are ready.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Genital Herpes Support
That time when you first discover you now have Genital Herpes is by far the most difficult time. I know because I've been there. It's a time of denial, anger, frustration, isolation and loneliness.
But it's not forever.
Support is crucial and often we don't feel we can get that from those we are in contact with in our everyday lives.
It's important that you realize you are not alone. There are countless others out there going through exactly what you are.
Here are some links that can help you get through this challenging transitional time. I hope they help you as much as they helped me.
Herpes Support - My Life With Herpes
Genital Herpes Support Group
But it's not forever.
Support is crucial and often we don't feel we can get that from those we are in contact with in our everyday lives.
It's important that you realize you are not alone. There are countless others out there going through exactly what you are.
Here are some links that can help you get through this challenging transitional time. I hope they help you as much as they helped me.
Herpes Support - My Life With Herpes
Genital Herpes Support Group
Monday, May 30, 2011
Living With Herpes? You Are Not Alone...
Not even close.
It sure doesn't feel that way though, does it? The isolated feeling we all feel when realizing we have Herpes is an overwhelming experience.
Please take heart that A) it does get better. and B) you are most certainly not alone.
Take a look:
*Genital Herpes is the most prevalent viral STD
*It's estimated that between 20% to 25% of adults have Herpes
*There are more cases of genital herpes than there are of all other viral STDs combined.
*Estimates indicate that as much as 90% of people who have Herpes have not been diagnosed.
*There are an estimated 1 Million new cases each year.
Of course these are statistics and you are not. You are a person with feelings and emotions and do not want to be grouped with a bunch of anonymous, faceless numbers.
I don't either. What these number tell me though is there has to be "safety in numbers". In this case a place where people just like you and me can go to feel like we belong to something, be a part of.
A place where genital Herpes isn't a deep dark secret that isolates individuals, but is "out in the open" because everyone shares the same "secret". A place to meet new friends, hang out and even date others with Herpes.
Try it out. You deserve it.
It sure doesn't feel that way though, does it? The isolated feeling we all feel when realizing we have Herpes is an overwhelming experience.
Please take heart that A) it does get better. and B) you are most certainly not alone.
Take a look:
*Genital Herpes is the most prevalent viral STD
*It's estimated that between 20% to 25% of adults have Herpes
*There are more cases of genital herpes than there are of all other viral STDs combined.
*Estimates indicate that as much as 90% of people who have Herpes have not been diagnosed.
*There are an estimated 1 Million new cases each year.
Of course these are statistics and you are not. You are a person with feelings and emotions and do not want to be grouped with a bunch of anonymous, faceless numbers.
I don't either. What these number tell me though is there has to be "safety in numbers". In this case a place where people just like you and me can go to feel like we belong to something, be a part of.
A place where genital Herpes isn't a deep dark secret that isolates individuals, but is "out in the open" because everyone shares the same "secret". A place to meet new friends, hang out and even date others with Herpes.
Try it out. You deserve it.
PositiveSingles.com - the best, most trusted and largest anonymous STD dating site!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Help! I Have An Outbreak
My Alternative Treatment For When An Outbreak Strikes
Like I've said before on other posts:
"Before I go any further, here is my caveat in that I am not a health care professional in any way, anything I tell you about is simply what this woman has found to be effective for herself.
Just a friend passing along information to another friend, OK?"
First thing I do is to step up my dosages on the daily supplements I take, L-lysine, Bee Propolis and Colloidal Silver. I have found if I triple dose on L-lysine for a day or two, my outbreak often times never fully "blooms", but that's if I catch it early enough and that's just what works for me.
Second, take a long, soaking bath using generous amounts baking soda and sea salt. In fact take two or three! Sea Salt is effective at removing toxins from the body and baking soda is very alkaline and viruses don't like a high alkalinity. There is no proof that this helps reduce an outbreak, but it has been effective for me and I figure if it only helped to reduce stress, then I'm coming out ahead, right?
Next I use a Colloidal Silver gel to apply directly to the outbreak. Colloidal Silver is effective at fighting off viral outbreaks and the gel is incredibly soothing to a Herpes blister.
Finally, lay off sugar, processed foods, coffee, soda and any other acidic foods high in arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that the Herpes Virus needs in order to grow. L-lysine has the opposite effect and actually counteracts the production of Arginine.
Not sure what foods are acidic versus alkaline? Visit this site for general chart to help you.
Can't say it enough, but the key to avoiding outbreaks naturally is a healthy lifestyle that promote a super strong immune system.
Like I've said before on other posts:
"Before I go any further, here is my caveat in that I am not a health care professional in any way, anything I tell you about is simply what this woman has found to be effective for herself.
Just a friend passing along information to another friend, OK?"
First thing I do is to step up my dosages on the daily supplements I take, L-lysine, Bee Propolis and Colloidal Silver. I have found if I triple dose on L-lysine for a day or two, my outbreak often times never fully "blooms", but that's if I catch it early enough and that's just what works for me.
Second, take a long, soaking bath using generous amounts baking soda and sea salt. In fact take two or three! Sea Salt is effective at removing toxins from the body and baking soda is very alkaline and viruses don't like a high alkalinity. There is no proof that this helps reduce an outbreak, but it has been effective for me and I figure if it only helped to reduce stress, then I'm coming out ahead, right?
Next I use a Colloidal Silver gel to apply directly to the outbreak. Colloidal Silver is effective at fighting off viral outbreaks and the gel is incredibly soothing to a Herpes blister.
Finally, lay off sugar, processed foods, coffee, soda and any other acidic foods high in arginine. Arginine is an amino acid that the Herpes Virus needs in order to grow. L-lysine has the opposite effect and actually counteracts the production of Arginine.
Not sure what foods are acidic versus alkaline? Visit this site for general chart to help you.
Can't say it enough, but the key to avoiding outbreaks naturally is a healthy lifestyle that promote a super strong immune system.
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