hope75

Thanks for your words of encouragement, it means so much to me :-) The picture was taken in July this year at my graduating from teaching school party ! I remember it well, because about two weeks previous I was diagnosed. I was having a terrible break out that evening, so it was a very bitter sweet moment. I remember thinking, this should be one of the most happiest times in my life and it was overshadowed by sadness.. ! NO MORE !! the picture is a reminder to my self to never let this thing overshadow my happiness !! WCS I hope you didn't think I was critiquing your coming out with my billboard comment. I really admire your bravery Adrial I'm so glad I found you, you are a very special human being :-)

Ok, so I'm not advertising on a bill board, but I decided to take one step out of my closet and add a picture.... I've told two friends and had positive responses and after reading and being inspired by the two brave ladies and their recent closet posts, I decided to go for it one step further . Two months ago I didn't dare post on here in case anyone I knew stumbled across it and recognised me. Now I'm more embarrassed that people I know will read one of my earlier posts which are like emotional vomit spilled out in a jumble of words, rather that the fact that I have H. Or the fact that they will discover I have a secret addiction to quotes !! ( sorry guys for clogging that thread, I just cant help my self. Its on a level with my shoe addiction !! :-) ). As well as H I also have dyslexia so apologies for any crappy spellings ,( but that doesn't make me thick, just like H doesn't make me dirty!! ) Any way that's me, I am now off for a run....because I can ... Happy Sunday everyone, you are all fabulous xx

Adrial, you always seem to know what to say its like you read my mind ! how do you do that ? :-)

Well done Cicily, so brave. I admire you xx

Nothing out side of you can affect you. Nothing outside of you can make you feel sad, angry, weak or disheartened without your permission. Everyone comes with baggage, find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack. sometimes the strongest people are the ones who love beyond all faults. Cry behind closed doors and fight battles that no one knows about. When I look back on my life, I see pain, mistakes and heartache. When I look in the mirror I see strength, learnt lessons, and pride in my self . You don't really need someone to complete you. you only need someone to accept you completely Sorry, I realise I've taken over this post. I cant help it, I'm addicted to quotes.. I will leave.......for now :-)

I often look around when I am out and about and wonder if anyone else if dealing with this. .. I do this too x

Sorry cant help myself now, I bloody love quotes :-) !!!! What you crave outside of you will only ever be found within you. The perfect job won’t fill you. The right partner won’t fill you. Boatloads of money won’t fill you. Status, fame, popularity and achievement won’t fill you. Seek your fulfillment within and you will always have everything you need.

Some people confuse self-love with arrogance, selfishness, self-importance, or ego. But that’s not what loving yourself is about at all. We all have within us a Divine spark. Loving yourself simply means that you recognize that this spark exists, and in doing so, you realize you are inherently and divinely lovable. It’s also about prioritizing self care, because you can’t truly love and serve others unless you’re giving and loving from a place of fullness, rather than depletion. When you allow your Divine spark to be nurtured and cared for, and when you radiate that Divine spark out into the world - LOOK OUT WORLD.

Diagnosed in June. Being down, up, down up, and I'm determined to stay up. Im 38 ( a young 38 though :-) ) single and from the UK. Would love to talk to people of a similar age, male and female ( to get different perspectives) both new to H and veterans. My life is evolving in a new direction and I would like to drag a few new mates along with me :-)

You will pull out of it, its a big shock and you will go through the process of grieving like us all. I was like you, I had break out after breakout in different areas. It was on my hands too which always seemed to follow the genital break out. then my bottom. It seemed to go in a constant cycle . The Aciclovir helped me, although I still get tingles now and again, but no sores as yet. What med are you on ? Have you tried adding epsom salt to your bath ? Hope you get it controlled, maybe you need a different med ? once you control the breakouts you will feel a lot better. big hugs to you.x

you are amazing ! wish I was so brave !! well done you xx

http://quotes-lover.com/picture-quote/if-there-are-no-ups-and-down-in-your-life-it-means-you-are-dead/

You don't HAVE to do anything, but I agree with peachyogurt on this one. If the guy that gave it to me had being honest and open, then yes... maybe I wouldn't have slept with him that night. But honestly, I'd have been so flattered that he felt he could tell me that I'd have probably ended up falling in love with him and sleeping with him any way. Obviously this is in hindsight but I know what I'm like.Now.... I don't love him, but I certainly don't hate him. I feel sorry for him, because I wouldn't want to live with the guilt of passing this unwillingly on to anyone.

sex on the beach please !! ( the cocktail) :-)

:-) :-) :-)

This song helps to pick me up ! thought I'd share :-)

I can quite easily sleep for 10-11 hours when not having a breakout !!! :-)

Thank you for posting this. Its so good to read how people are turning this thing around and making it into a positive experience. Its a brave thing to post something so personal on here and reading posts like this help keep me going, and make me realise I am not alone in this, so thank you. Lets keep trying to make this a positive experience. I also realize that my past behaviours are due to parts of me that I am deeply insecure about and keep well hidden, scared that I might be judged for my weaknesses. Herpes has been the shift that I needed in order to accept who I am faults and all. I am now also hoping to move beyond self-doubt and be open and vulnerable to the possibility of meaningful love.

Glad to be of some help “A lot of things are inherent in life -change, birth, death, aging, illness, accidents, calamities, and losses of all kinds- but these events don't have to be the cause of ongoing suffering. Yes, these events cause grief and sadness, but grief and sadness pass, like everything else, and are replaced with other experiences. The ego, however, clings to negative thoughts and feelings and, as a result, magnifies, intensifies, and sustains those emotions while the ego overlooks the subtle feelings of joy, gratitude, excitement, adventure, love, and peace that come from Essence. If we dwelt on these positive states as much as we generally dwell on our negative thoughts and painful emotions, our lives would be transformed.” your glow will come back even brighter with more compassion and understanding towards others ;-)

This is great, thanks for sharing. Everyone is fighting there own battle !

I had pretty much continual outbreaks for my first 3 1/2 months. I was never quite sure when one ended and another started and the Zovirax didnt really help. The only thing that has helped is suppressive (Aciclovir). Being outbreak free for 7 weeks now and not having the symptoms is such a relief. I am now starting to deal with the emotional side of it. If It is a new outbreak it can be controlled and you will get your sparkle back :-)

Good luck lost1234, I hope it goes well, I'm sure you will feel relived once you've disclosed. x

Hope your feeling a bit better. I have being on suppressive for about 7 weeks now and haven't had a break out since ( was having almost continuous before that ) and no side effects for me. Hope it works for you nadine10.

Made me cry...

Super :-)