u/Starlightttx7

And I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
🎶

Hey... I just feel like I'm in a deep wander right now. Does it ever actually go away?
I'm still really recently diagnosed and just went through my first outbreak, and I honestly can't stop feeling down about it. I'm trying so hard not to, but I feel like I'm grieving and feeling so alone. I don't know why, but I just hate the stigma so much.
Just needed to vent, I guess. What a journey this HSV thing is.

This is my first oral HSV-1 outbreak, and my doctor basically just told me to take the medication and didn’t give me much information beyond that.
For those who have had one before, how did you know when it was completely healed? Is it when the sore/scab is gone, when the skin looks normal again, or is there something else I should look for?
Just trying to know what to expect since this is my first time dealing with it. Thanks!

Hey everyone. I found out last week that I have HSV-1 after having my first outbreak. I've been spiraling ever since because I'm thinking about my dating life, my health, and my future. I'm 30 and have never been in a relationship, so it feels like all the hope I had has disappeared. I keep thinking about things like spontaneous kissing and wondering what intimacy will look like for me now.
I'm also not sure how I got the virus. I didn't feel like I was very sexually active, so it was really shocking to find out. I've been spiraling over what I should or shouldn't eat and how careful I need to be around the people I live with.
I've become so paranoid that I've been buying a bunch of cleaning supplies and constantly cleaning everything. I just feel really empty because I don't really have anyone to talk to about this.
Even makeup has become something I worry about. I keep thinking, "Oh my gosh, now I have to think about my makeup and lip products too." How do you all handle makeup, lip products, and things like that?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through this. How did you cope after your diagnosis? What does dating and intimacy look like for you now? Are there things you wish you had known in the beginning? I feel really overwhelmed and alone right now, and I'd appreciate any advice or reassurance.