Spoiler alert: There will be no actual pictures of genital herpes in this post. Sorry to disappoint.
There's a very interesting yet completely natural thing we do as humans: We compare. So, the first thing I did after receiving my positive diagnosis with genital herpes years ago was to rush to my nearest Google search bar and type in "pictures of genital herpes." I wanted to get an idea of what my future situation was going to look like by looking at other people's situations. And what I found didn't get me too excited about my future with herpes. But come to find out... most of my worrying was pointless.
It seems that it is human nature to compare. It's definitely ego-driven, in order to see if we're adequately keeping up with the Joneses - to make sure that we're "stacking up." We compare others' experiences to our own hoping to see common ground; we compare others' opinions to our own; we compare our bodies, minds, personalities, finances, and on and on. Before we go out to see a movie, we ask other friends what they thought about it, what movie critics said about it; we look for approval in who we date: do mom and dad approve, do the friends approve, is she as hot or hotter than women other guys are dating? Constant comparison is the norm. But what we ultimately come to find out is that each of our experiences are so unique to us; comparing really doesn't help us make better decisions for ourselves.
So back to my search for genital herpes pictures... I was comparing myself and my new-found situation to other people with herpes, trying somehow to get things "in perspective." But no amount of pictures or other people's perspectives (including mine) has much to do at all to your relationship to herpes. Everyone's situation is different, both the physical and the psychological experience. Just as everyone's experience of spicy foods or jumping out of airplanes is different, everyone's experience of herpes is different as well.
So do yourself a favor and don't go out there comparing. Just keep yourself healthy and find out for yourself with time that your herpes occurrences will most likely be easier than you're assuming. The most difficult part of genital herpes seems to have very little to do with the actual physical symptoms but more to do with the psychological impact thanks to the stigma that it holds. But thankfully the psychological impact can be under your control as well. It's all in your head.
Herpes Life is a place for people with herpes who want their confidence and happiness back to live a more fulfilled and aware life. For more articles on the positive side of living and thriving with herpes, jump on over to: http://herpeslife.com
