Depressed & Single With Herpes? Join a Herpes Dating Site Today!

I hate to sound like a broken record when I say this, but  you truly are not alone in your struggle with herpes. There are millions of single adults suffering in silence just like yourself. Your herpes diagnosis probably felt like the end of the world. You felt like know one else would want you. Perhaps you aren’t ready to come out of your herpes shell and start mingling with singles who do not have it, so join a herpes dating website today and meet people who are just like you!

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Can I Really Treat Herpes Outbreaks with Lysine?

When inactive, the herpes virus lays dormant in your nervous system; either at the base of your spine or your neck. When the virus is activated, it travels to the surface of your skin and this is what is known as a herpes outbreak. Now the key to truly living herpes free is to AVOID outbreaks altogether. Preventing herpes outbreaks can be done with simple changes to your diet amongst other things.

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What Can You Do to Avoid a Herpes Outbreak?

Avoiding herpes outbreaks is entirely possible with simple changes to your diet and fitness routine. Fortunately, these herpes treatments are natural and effective.  Doing small things like avoiding caffeine, or excercising more can tremendously reduce the number of herpes outbreaks you experience over the course of time.

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Do Natural Herpes Treatments Really Work?

I will start by reminding you that there is no cure for herpes, you can only treat your outbreaks – but the virus will live in your body forever. If you suffer from genital herpes, chances are – you are tired of spending hundreds of dollars per year on prescriptions like Valtrex.  There is a way to treat herpes outbreaks naturally and lessen the re-occurence of your herpes outbreaks as well.

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Stop Looking at Pictures of Herpes!

Dating With Herpes – How to Overcome Rejection

The likelihood of rejection is very much real when you have genital herpes and are interested in dating someone that does not have herpes. The social taboos associated with the virus are too many to count. Herpes is demonized and the large majority of the population, even those with the virus – are mostly misinformed about what it is and how it is contracted.

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Coping With Herpes Diagnosis Depression, Dating, Relationships & Myths Dispelled

A herpes diagnosis can send even the most well balanced individual into an emotional tailspin of depression. It is an incurable disease and although it isn’t deadly, and considered a mere annoyance to the medical community – carries a taboo throughout all of society. Chances are you feel incredibly lonely, isolated, dirty – and angry. If you are single, you’re also concerned about your chances of having a healthy and fulfilling love life as well. Depression is a very natural reaction to have when you suffer from the herpes virus – but now is the time to educate yourself and learn what it is that you can do to overcome these feelings and live a normal life.

Top Herpes Myths Dispelled:

1. I can’t have children: This is absolutely 100% FALSE. The herpes simplex virus will not prevent you from having children, nor can you pass on the disease to your children in utero or during the conception process. HSV type 1 (oral) and type 2 (genital) are contracted via skin to skin contact. This is why many in the medical community consider the virus to be more of a dermatological disease, even though it is often passed through sexual contact. You will contract herpes through seminal fluid, vaginal fluid or blood. If you are a man, you can still reproduce – and if you are a woman, you can still conceive. It is important that your doctor knows your status ahead of time because most often, a woman with genital herpes will be given a Cesarean section (c-section) instead of having a vaginal birth to reduce the chances of the child coming into contact with the virus in the vaginal canal.

2. I can’t donate blood: FALSE! The inability to donate blood is another common misconception associated with the herpes virus. Let me state once again – the herpes simplex virus is not a blood-based virus. When you contract herpes, oral or genital, it “lives” within the nervous system of the body. If you have oral – it generally rests in the base of the neck, when you have genital – it rests in the base of your spine. When dormant, it just kind of lays there – harmless, but when active – it travels via the nervous system to it’s outbreak location. According to the Red Cross and all medical studies, donating blood when you have HSV is perfectly safe. They ask that you avoid doing so when having your initial outbreak or even subsequent recurrent outbreaks.

3. I can no longer work around or hang around kids: FALSE! The guilt and depression associated with the virus tends to cause some sufferers to withdraw from the world. They feel that they are the most disgusting person around and go through great lengths to avoid interacting with people, especially children. Once again – stop beating yourself up! The chances of casually transmitting the virus to children are very slim. Did you know that an estimated 75% of the U.S. population has some form of HSV – for the large majority it is type 1, oral herpes. Don’t allow your diagnosis to cause you to stop living your best life possible. Now the virus is passed from skin to skin contact, so common sense hygiene practices are in order when dealing with the public. Keep your hands clean, avoid touching any sores during outbreaks, and keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes.

4. My sex life is over: Herpes will undoubtedly change your sex life, but it is far from over. You will definitely need to be careful, more responsible – and less spontaneous…but you can have a full happy sex life. You aren’t limited to the type of sex you have either, you are just limited in the ability to be “carefree”. This can be a good thing though – so don’t fret.

5. No one will want a serious relationship with me: FALSE! I won’t try to paint a rosy picture of easy dating and acceptance by everyone you come across. Relationships aren’t easy to begin with, and that is even more true when you have an incurable disease of any sort.There are some people who will reject you without even giving you the benefit of the doubt. Others may give you a chance, only to later decide that they don’t want to take that risk. You may also decide that you rather only date other people with herpes, if that is the case – there are thousands and thousands of people waiting to meet you. There a several great online dating sites for people with the herpes virus – including PositiveSingles.com and MPWH.net

To meet other singles with oral and genital herpes – register today at PositiveSingles.com – you’ll be happy that you did!

Stuck in a Dead End Relationship Because of Herpes?

There is nothing more frustrating than feeling stuck in a dead end relationship. Perhaps you’re in it for the kids, or maybe you’re sticking around because you have grown comfortable with your partner.Those are the typical reasons for most people, but you – well, you aren’t “most people”. Your situation is entirely different. You are stuck in your dead in relationship because you and your partner both have herpes.

You may have given it to them, or they may have given it to you – how you contracted it is really besides the point, you want out of the relationship but are deathly afraid of what the single life will have in store for you. Having herpes is difficult enough, but having herpes and being in a relationship made you feel safe – now having the virus and the thought of being single is depressing.

First know that you are not alone. You’ve likely heard all of the statistics regarding the number of people with either HSV-1 or HSV-2, and you’ve likely heard the spiel about how it isn’t “that serious” – but to you it is, and exposing yourself to a mean unforgiving public isn’t a task you’re up for at the moment.

Here are a few things for you to think about:

1. Never bargain away your happiness: Your ultimate happiness is not a bargaining chip to be traded away for something less valuable. Remember the saying – “when you settle for less, you usually get less than you settled for”. Or as one r&b songstress sung ” the things that we accept, will be the things that we regret”. Make no mistake about it, if you stay in your current relationship simply because you are afraid to venture outside of your comfort zone, you are making a grave mistake. Your feelings will soon turn to bitterness, resentment and hatred. Who wants to be in a relationship that’s full of those types of negative and life sucking emotions?

2. Herpes does not define you: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, allow us to remind you one more time that you are NOT alone. There are millions of people with oral and genital herpes, and hundreds of thousands of single people – looking for love and happiness just like you are. If you are full of guilt and shame, you will attract people who feed on and exploit that. If you walk in acceptance, happiness and comfort- people will reciprocate that as well.

3. You have options: Despite what others have said, regardless of how herpes always seems to be the butt of the joke (no pun intended) – you do have options. There are thousands of couples where one person in the relationship has herpes, and the other does not. Not only that – but there are online dating sites dedicated to helping people with HSV find successful relationships.

Staying in a relationship at the risk of compromising your happiness and complete fulfilment is never a good idea. Don’t be afraid to step out on your own and explore your options. Positive Singles, the #1 herpes dating site – is a really great place to start!

What Can We Learn from Celebrities with Herpes?

What do Michael Vick, Robin Williams and Liza Minnelli all have in common? Well, besides being popular celebrities – they also have all been the center of lawsuits for allegedly infecting sexual partners, or in the case of Liza Minnelli – failing to disclose her status, with herpes.

Michael Vick is likely the most popular of the three. In the early 2000’s he was sued by an unnamed young lady for failing to disclose his genital herpes diagnosis and ultimately transmitting the virus to her. According to the reports, Vick was fully aware of his status and even used the moniker “Ron Mexico” as his alias when he received his testing for the disease.

Liza Minnelli’s ex-husband, David Gest used the fact that she had not told him of her HSV-2 status until after they were married as a way to have their prenuptial agreement dismissed. And in 1986, Robin Williams was sued for over six million dollars by an ex-girlfriend who claimed that he infected her with herpes.

Not all celebrities take this route with their status, in fact Ann Heche has been pretty forthcoming about the fact that she has genital herpes – in her 2001 autobiography, she revealed that she has had it since her childhood when she contracted it from her father who molested her. Billy Idol has also candidly admitted to having it as well.

The list of rumored celebs with it is even longer, ranging from Derek Jeter, Brad Pitt and Bill Clinton to Jessica Alba, Janet Jackson, Brittany spears and Paris Hilton.

At the end of the day, sexual health and medical history is an extremely private and sensitive matter that should never be broadcast to the world – and only shared with those you trust and intend to have an intimate relationship with. To an extent, celebrities have forfeited a certain amount of that privacy in exchange for wealth and power. But the question still remains – what can we learn from celebrities with herpes?

1. Importance of disclosure: The stigma of oral and genital herpes carries much shame and guilt. Most people would sooner cut off the tips of a finger than tell the entire world that they have the disease. However when you are worth hundreds of millions, embarrassment, shame and guilt can be put on the back-burner in hopes of a six or seven figure out of court settlement. Although Michael Vick did eventually settle out of court, his dirty little secret was now out of the bag – and it obviously hasn’t had a negative impact on his ability to have relationships. Now the chances of you being sued by someone for giving them herpes may be a lot slimmer, but don’t take that for granted. Knowingly putting someone else at risk is extremely irresponsible and can lead to a lot of hurt and pain. So while you may not face a court case, your status may be publicized and your reputation damaged. Exposing yourself may be an incredibly scary thing to do, but taking away someone else’s options is even scarier. You were once in their shoes – so remember that.

2. Herpes doesn’t define you: Is Brad Pitt any less hot because he’s rumored to have herpes? Is Billy Idol any less talented because he has admitted to it? Is Robin Williams less funny? Or Michael Vick less talented? The fact that you have herpes (in any form) doesn’t define you, nor does it make you any less great, fabulous, beautiful, smart, or attractive. People will treat you in the same way you treat yourself. If you are full of guilt and shame, you will invite people into your life who will exploit that and use you. If you come to terms with your disease, accept that this is something you have to deal with, and seek to educate others – then you will attract people who are comfortable, accepting and supportive.

Now certainly some of these things are easier said than done, but that does not negate your personal responsibility in this matter. Treat others with the same respect and consideration that you would want to be treated with.

If you are still uncomfortable with the idea of outing yourself – try registering at some of the more popular herpes dating sites, including Positive Singles.

Dating With Herpes: Do I need to take Suppressive Therapy?

When you come to terms with your herpes diagnosis, you’ll really need to make a decision about what treatment options you will utilize. If you are single, and intend to date people without herpes – this is doubly important.

As you know, there is no cure to the herpes simplex virus. Although the virus is not deadly or particularly dangerous – it is still incurable. Disclosing your status to any potential sexual partner is a must. There are many within the herpes community who do not feel comfortable dating outside of the “group” – however when dating people who do not have herpes, there are a few things that you can and should do to protect them.

1. Be honest about your outbreaks: Nothing ruins spontaneity like an annoying herpes outbreak! You should consider yourself highly contagious when you are experiencing an outbreak, so it is best to refrain from intercourse during these times.

2. Pay attention to your prodrome symptoms: Part of being honest about your outbreaks involves you knowing when they actually occur. Due to the fact that they aren’t always visible or noticeable – keep track of the symptoms you have immediately before an active outbreak. In other words, are your glands and lymph nodes tender? Do you have any body aches? Abnormal itching? A tingling sensation near your outbreak sites? Knowing your symptoms will give you a better idea of when you may be shedding.

3. Eat healthy: Many people with herpes report increase in outbreaks when they eat certain foods. It is widely known that things like peanuts, caffeine, and even wine can cause the dormant virus to make it’s way to the surface. If certain foods are your triggers, try to avoid them or find alternatives.

4. Take a form of suppressive therapy: We’re sure you’ve seen the cheesy Valtrex commercials – where one person in the couple has herpes, and the other person has not – and it’s been that way for years! As cheesy as they may be, there is an element in truth behind the commercial and the product itself. Studies show that when taken regularly, Valtrex drastically reduces the chances of passing the virus on to your partner. If you are dating outside of the herpes community, you should make it a point to take your meds on a daily basis as prescribed.

5. Always use protection: It is important to note that the herpes simplex virus can be passed on even when you use condoms. Since the primary form of transmission is through skin to skin contact, if you have surface level shedding in a place not covered by a condom – you are still contagious. It is also important to remind you that both genital and oral herpes can be transmitted during oral sex. With those things said, using condoms is still a “must”. Condoms combined with suppressive therapy reduce the transmission rate to less than 2-3%

Now these five tips are just a few of the ways to make dating those without herpes less stressful, the other alternative is to explore your dating options amongst the herpes community. Although the disease is still taboo and demonized, there is a rather large online dating community out there just waiting to meet you! Positive Singles is one of the premiere herpes dating sites.

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