Question:
Hey,

2 weeks ago i found out that i have genital herpes. I'm only 18 years old and i've been dating one boy for 20 months now and he's the only one i've ever been with sexually. We are both trying to cope with this news the best we can because he had never had an outbreak but was the one who gave it to me. I just thought it would be a good idea to write out how i felt because i'm really nervous about my life now and i feel like i have nothing to look forward to anymore.. but seeing what some other people with the virus have to say about it makes me feel a little bit better.

Well anyways, no one has to but if anyone has any useful information they can give me or i could just talk to i would appreciate it. Thank you.

Answer:
Hi there,

I'm new here too, only found out about my diagnosis a few months ago, and just wanted to say hang in there. I also got it from a man I've been with for 2 years who'd never known he has it.

The first few weeks were terrible for me as I struggled to cope with the realization that my life has changed forever. I'm not as young as you are (soon to be 30) but I still have so much of my life ahead of me and I felt/feel like it's all ruined. Obviously, I am still struggling with it, but I just wanted to let you know that it gets better every day... not necessarily symptoms-wise, since it's different for everyone and the patterns of my infection are still figuring themselves out... but emotions-wise and attitude-wise. Some days (not many, not yet) I can actually find a positive light to shine on this situation. It's a lot of work to find that positive light, but the effort is worth it.

Anyway, just wanted to share those thoughts with you, since you shared your thoughts with us!