I contracted HSV-2 in December of 2015. I’ve never had an outbreak, and I’m on meds every day to keep it that way but it still feels like shit knowing I carry the virus and I have the potential to give it to someone. A little while after I tested positive I met and dated someone who was okay with it but this past week we broke up after 5 months. I thought I had come to terms with having herpes but I guess I was wrong. Being single and back in the dating world is extremely trying and scary. Last night I had an extremely bad breakdown, I couldn’t sleep it all and I was the closest to hurting myself that I’ve been in a while. Because I have herpes I’ve just been feeling worthless and disgusting and undesirable. I have all these feelings of anger, self hatred and loneliness. Anger at the douche bag that took advantage of me, self hatred because I was too stupid to take care of myself, loneliness because I feel like my casual dating life is over. I don’t know how to feel anymore. I found helpblr/herpblr because my friend suggested it to me and at first I was upset and didn’t want to join any support groups for this thing that I’m so ashamed of and frustrated with. But I guess I don’t really have a choice if I want to live my life and not be a cold husk of a person. Maybe I’m just being dramatic but I seriously can’t shake this feeling. I’ve been blocked numerous times on apps after disclosing my status and it just gives me this pit in my stomach and it makes me hate myself. I want to be able to flirt and be casual and confident in myself but I feel like I cant because I always have this thing in the back of my mind telling me I’m dirty and nobody will want me. I hate having to tell every single person I’m ever intimate with. Hopefully I’ll be able to get over these things as time goes on but I just don’t know. I hate being like this and I’m sure it drains my friends that I vent to so I hope this blog and herpblr can help somehow. If anyone can message me with advice or help I’d really appreciate it. Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this.