Herpes Simplex Virus and herpes zoster or shingles are both, in their own ways, debilitating emotionally. The social stigma of the sexually transmitted HSV is paralyzing to many sufferers, especially those who suffer frequent recurrences of genital herpes. People beginning new relationships, or struggling with the discomfort and stress of frequent genital outbreaks often need specific therapies, whether psychological or medical. What’s surprising is the number of people who actually do suffer from genital herpes.

Since HSV is a sexually transmitted disease, anyone experiencing an outbreak before teen years is suspect of being a victim of sexual abuse. This, in and of itself opens a new classification of HSV sufferer along with the associated emotional and psychological trauma.

Seeking Help

For the person suffering with HSV, especially genital herpes, the related social stress, embarrassment, even depression, associated with this disease can also be the vehicle for future and more frequent recurrences. Because many people experience outbreaks that are triggered by real-life factors, stress can breed more and more outbreaks. For some people just taking inventory of the state of their personal lives when an outbreak occurs may help in isolating those factors. Persons experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, anger issues, or family problems, can manage those with the help of a personal counselor—social worker, psychologist, or even psychiatrist. Once these factors are recognized, then the HSV patient can begin to effectively control their disease with more confidence. Can managing these emotional and psychological stressors decrease incidence of viral outbreaks? Can it decrease frequency? The answers to these questions can form the direction for a medical drug therapy that treats the actual virus.

HSV sufferers should be frank with their physicians. They should know the causes of Herpes Simplex Virus, its signs and symptoms, and how to avoid infecting others. They should not be afraid to ask for references to support groups or counselors.

For both HSV and shingles patients who suffer from post herpetic neuralgia—prolonged nerve pain—counseling can be very important in life management. Aging issues, including depression, frustration, and fear become seriously relevant factors for those aging patients suffering from shingles and attending neuralgia, including loss of independence.