Why I am not Ashamed of having Herpes
Why I am not Ashamed to have Herpes
Why Should I be?
I will not allow myself to be ridiculed, stigmatized or disrespected by others for having a disease. Disease is a natural part of life whether you are human, animal or plant. Nobody is exempt from disease, almost no one will live their full life without getting at least one sexually transmitted disease. These are the facts.
Some people are afraid of diseases and those who have them, that is an ancient, primal fear and one I understand well, but it doesn't excuse anyone from mean-spirited, ignorant behaviour towards those with diseases.
When I was a kid we made fun of "retarded" and "handicapped" people. i am deeply ashamed of that now, but children can be quite brutal. adults need to hold themselves to a much higher standard.
Those who make sick jokes about herpes are not only aping the same mentality as those who make racist or sexist jokes but they are also exposing their own lack of courage. It's much easier to ridicule the things you are afraid of rather than having the courage to face those fears. They are creating a stigma that causes millions of people with herpes unnecessary grief.
At least 60% of the population has herpes above or below the waist.
70% of the population will get hpv as genital warts or cervical dysplasia. 80% will get chlamydia at least once- most women will get it more than once.
All animals with backbones get herpes including cats, horses, elephants and salmon. Most animals without a backbone get herpes including worms.
Having herpes doesn't make me less moral, less attractive, less ethical, less worthy of respect, less sexy or less of a great catch, so why would I be ashamed to have herpes?
I am not afraid of my body. I know that sometimes I will get sick.. I know that my faculties will decline as I age and that i am destined to die. This is the beauty of life- the contrast and balance between health and disease, between happiness and sorrow, summer and winter, fullness and emptiness, life and death.
I am a natural person, I am not shamed or at war with any part of my body, including the herpes virus. I am at peace with the virus, my body and my place in this world as a person with a lifelong herpes infection.
I am most definitely not ashamed.
christopher scipio
homeopath/herbalist
holistic herpes treatment specialist
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A place where I can be me - with my HSV2 diagnosis
Krystalred
For the first time I think I have found a place where I can be myself. I'm a South African lady, in my 40's, with kids, divorced. Was married for a long time (20) years, and then had a couple of relationships. Always tried to be careful and take necessary precautions, and to my utter horror, landed up with a genital herpes diagnosis that I have lived with for 5 years, without telling a single soul. I have been unable to find any sort of "support", or "groups" here in SA to which I can reach out, and the road has been long and hard. I have surfed many sites, but have yet to meet a fellow South African, or anyone that cares to chat to one. Surfed upon this site by accident, and read all the comments, and don't think there is one where I can't relate to something. At least I know that there are others out there that feel just like me, and that all that I have felt, guilty, dirty, unworthy ashamed, and yes, I have also gone through times where I simply wanted to die. Yet, reading the posts, some give me hope that whilst I have this lifelong virus, perhaps there is hope and maybe even some semblance of a normal life. I have been divorced for 7 years, and would very much like to get into a loving, permanent relationship, but did not think that was possible for me because of my herpes. Well, today, for the first time, I feel a glimmer of hope.
Thank you Herpes Doctor.
Please feel free to write to me, I would love to hear from you guys/girls out there. It would be wonderful to "talk" and share.
maybe one day....
maybe one day , hopefully soon i can feel like myself again after being diagnosed with HSV2. I was diagnosed on 11/06 with this disease , and haven't had another outbreak since , but these are the first steps for me to not feel this horrible stigma attached to this. It really truly helps to read what herpes doctor and krystalred wrote. I have 2 children , 5 & 3 , & i just have to remember that yes , i have this virus , but it doesn't have me. It is hard , & i have ALOT of setbacks , but with a site like this that gives you a voice to help yourself & other people , is such a blessing. Thanks to everyone !!!
Still searching for hope...
I too have 2 children, ages 5 and 3. I just found out a week ago... and I'm not handling it well at all. I guess my biggest fear is not finding someone to love and marry (I'm a single mom and have been for years)... but it's that I will somehow give this to my kids unknowingly. Like having it spread from "down there" to my mouth, and then kissing the kids without knowing the virus is there and "active". I still do see the light at the end of the tunnel I suppose, but for now, I am just living day to day.... and doing whatever I can to lead a "normal" life. This site has been a huge help. Reading what others have had to say and how they cope, has been encouraging. Thanks.
It's nothing
Herpes didn't means you are some bad!
there are thousands members with Herpes on site STDromance.com
All of us with the herpes virus is blessed
I got diagnosed with the virus 9/07 and i asked myself how did i get this? I was in a committed relationship but i guess my ex put me at risk because i have the virus. I don't even know when i contracted the virus.
I knew this guy for a long time and never gave him a chance because i was already in a relationship. When i finally broke off with my ex, i gave this guy a chance. We only was dating about 6month when i found out i have the virus. The hardest thing for me was to loss him to this virus but i had to tell him because he needed to know.
I was fully honest with him. I told him that he is always at risk from contracting the virus, i explained what will happen when there is an outbreak and that there is no cure. He asked me if it was life threating and of course it's not. His next question was will it stop us from having children and i told him no. I am proud to say i beat this virus. He gave me a hug and a kiss he told me that he is more worried about and that he is not going anywhere because we all are going to die one day.
The herpes virus is not life threating. Their is someone out there for you that is understanding and will not judge you because we are all human.
I have a virus that is not life threating with no cure. I will be able to have kids and enjoy my life.
Think on this and you'll see how lucky you are.
I have a close friend who is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 10/07. Never smoked, dranked, was living a healthly life. Now she is fighting to stay alive and the sad part is she have a nine year old son. She had 5biosepy. Third opinion. Doctors can not remove the cancer because it has grown and is blocking a vital organ so right now her only treatment is chemo. She is in so much pain right now and is constantly in the treatment center for 10+hours day in and day out. I cry more for her than myself because she has a lot more fighting to do that i do.
I have a longterm virus and i don't have to fight. In this case i think i'm blessed.
Pray for my Friend(G.S).
Thanks