How to Care for Yourself When You're Having a Herpes Outbreak

Outbreaks Happen, Planning Ahead Can Help

After my primary herpes outbreak (my first outbreak with presenting symptoms) in 2015, I felt like I anticipated that every little sensation would result in an outbreak. I was scared, expecting to be thrust into a world of constant outbreaks. I became so focused and hyper-aware that it almost felt like I was manifesting it.

Waiting, waiting, waiting…

Google became my herpes BFF. “What does herpes look like? Is this herpes? Does this itch mean I have herpes?” I asked these questions repeatedly at the first potential sign of an outbreak.

I waited for a while.

I didn’t have an outbreak for some time. I wasn’t taking suppressive antiviral therapy, and didn’t do anything different in my routines. I was confused, but also relieved. This wasn’t what I expected life with herpes to be like.

During my time in graduate school, I did start to experience more frequent outbreaks. Between work, school, and internships, it became clear that stress was a major trigger for me.