People With Herpes - Dealing with the Emotional and Physical Effects of Genital Herpes

People with herpes have a lot of chips stacked against them

. Besides having to deal with a viral condition that flares up at the most inopportune times, they often have to deal with an undeserved stigma surrounding that virus. People with herpes often struggle with feelings of shame, regret, anxiety and poor self image. In addition to this, they have to deal with the public's perception of the disease, which can range from ridicule and shunning, to accusations of promiscuity and uncleanliness.

Sadly, this is still the common perception of herpes and herpes sufferers, when quite frankly the opposite is true. Herpes is a disease that can affect anyone. Around 20 percent of adults in the United States alone suffer from genital herpes, and this may actually be a conservative estimate. This is because around half of herpes sufferers show no symptoms at all, which explains the high transmission rate.

Due this lack of symptoms in many carriers, and due to the stigma that may prevent those surveyed from admitting they have the disease, it is many health care organisations opinion that the infection rate may be much higher than average estimates.

Hopefully as sexual education and STD awareness becomes more widespread, the negative connotations attached to herpes will be eliminated, and people with herpes can concentrate on controlling the physical symptoms without having to deal with the crushing psychological baggage that can come with the condition. Dealing with the emotional and mental impact is an important factor in effective treatment for herpes

Herpes is simply a virus, a virus that unfortunately makes itself known in a very sensitive and taboo part of the body. People with herpes are no different to anyone else and deserve the same treatment regardless of whether they have an STD or not. People with herpes need to know there are support networks in place to help deal with this often undiscussed aspect of the disease.

STD support groups exist in most cities, and often there will be specialised groups for HSV sufferers. For those who prefer not to meet in public, there are online forums where you can find support and advice. If you are struggling with the psychological aspect of herpes, some sessions with a therapist can also be a positive step.

People With Herpes - Dealing with the Emotional and Physical Effects of Genital Herpes

By: Kat Samson

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