Question:
Hi, well I am new to this, I am 19 years old. My mom and I both thought it would be a good idea for me to have this. I hear friends make fun of genital herpes, and people crack jokes, and I just feel dead inside. I think I have that and they have no idea. I really needed support from people who understand. I found out I had genital herpes when I was 2 months pregnant. I had what my OBGYN thought was genital herpes of HPV. I found out that it was genital herpes. My ex boyfriend (my sons father) had cheated alot and looking back I remember seeing what may have been genital herpes on him, Not thinking anything. (it did not look bad) we are not together anymore because of his sleeping around which I found out about after I had the baby. My son is a little over 14 months old. I only had that one outbreak. It is hard cause I dont feel like I have anything but I do. Im just wondering how all of you cope with this, and how it affects everyday life for you.
Thanks for the support. It is much needed! take care everyone:)

-tina144

Answer:
How to cope? Well, you get up in the morning and you do what has to be done... go to work or school, take care of your family, keep moving forward. You do the normal everyday things that you did before because that's your life, and it hasn't changed just because you have HSV. You still have obligations, and people who depend on you, and things that need doing, and so you do them. And you try to put it out of your mind until the next ob, or the next potential sexual encounter, and then you say, okay, I have this, and you deal with it, and move on.

It's a part of your life now that has to be dealt with sometimes, but it's not/can't be the main focus of your life or it will consume you, and taint everything that's good and beautiful in your life. And that's so sad.

You had a bad experience, and it left you with HSV, but it also gave you a wonderful gift.. a healthy young son. It doesn't matter to him that you have HSV, or that his father cheated on you. All he cares about is that you love him and care for him, and that you're there for him to love in return. Try to see yourself through his eyes. To him, you're perfect, beautiful, kind and loving. And while we can't always live up to our childrens' expectations, we can try. And in trying, we sometimes gain insight on what's really important in life. And I can tell you, it's not having herpes. It's something altogether different.