Understanding Herpes Outbreaks: What They Truly Mean
Here’s what having a herpes outbreak ~really~ means:
1. It has nothing to do with your character or morality. Remember Ella Dawson’s (@brosandprose) TEDx Talk? If you don’t, go watch it ASAP. While herpes outbreaks can be emotionally and physically painful for many, herpes outbreaks are never punishments for being sexually active and are not indicative of any wrongdoing (you can take all the “right” precautions and still end up with herpes). If we remove society’s opinions about herpes, and those living with the virus, a herpes outbreak is the body’s way of responding to an event.
2. Your body is trying to communicate with you. A herpes outbreak may be a response to illness, stress, or exhaustion. Some people may also experience outbreaks related to their menstrual cycle or extended exposure to sunlight. Everyone responds differently, which is why it is so important to listen to YOUR body.
3. It’s time to slow down and tune in. While it is important to “feel our feels” and acknowledge the impact of stigma, the reality is that we (at present) do not have a cure for herpes. While we cannot eliminate the virus, we can learn how to manage and treat our symptoms and, more importantly, care for our unique selves. Overworked and feel an outbreak coming on? Take a day for yourself. Still training using high intensity workouts in a prolonged period of high stress? Try a long walk instead. Learn to embrace modifications and alternative approaches if accessible to you.
4. We can’t eliminate herpes, and I don’t believe we can eliminate stigma, but we can shift our perspectives. Outbreaks can suck. They can be painful, interfere with partnered sex, and bring up residual feelings following one’s diagnosis. I’m not discounting this. We can’t change the circumstances of someone’s diagnosis, experience, or history with herpes, but we can change our perspective.
It won’t happen overnight, and we might not be able to do it alone (shoutout to friends and therapists). But imagine how this shift might impact your experience: Herpes outbreaks are reminders to check in with how you’re treating yourself.