- Date posted
- 6y
- Date posted
- 6y
Yes, that was my last major obsession. I was afraid I had herpes (I don't) and convinced myself that it was absolutely true. The obsession went away when I told myself that it was manageable and not the end of the world if I did have it.
- Date posted
- 6y
This is EXACTLY my fear. Knowing that even if I did... It's totally liveable. I just think it's one of those things that scares me so much because I have little control over it. Do you feel that way too?
- Date posted
- 6y
Yes - I can rationalise the fact that it’s rarely actually a big deal if you do have it, but it’s something about the fact that it it’s not curable and you may never know you have it that really frightens me (even though I know somebody with herpes and it really isn’t an issue for them). I just want to have one day where I’m not scanning my body for symptoms and googling herpes!!!
- Date posted
- 6y
I completely relate. It's so tiring. My sister actually has it and she lives a totally normal life it barely effects her at all. And even with all that I still freak out about it nonstop. I have a hard time dealing with the uncertainty.
- Date posted
- 5y
I am so glad I found this chat. I have been going through a 3 week episode completely panicking that I have herpes. I have extremely sensitive skin and had an allergic reaction to a new soap I was using. Well, I completely convinced myself it was herpes. (It’s subconsciously my biggest fear I think) my anxiety from fearing I had herpes got so bad I had to take 2 days off work because I worked myself up so bad. My gyno gave me the all clear, but I still don’t believe her. It’s completely exhausting thinking I have these diseases even when doctors have proved to me I don’t. I don’t know why I have this completely irrational fear of genital herpes. I have lived with cold sores my whole life and every time I get one it’s like the end of the world. I constantly wash my hands and cover the area so it doesn’t spread. I even wear latex gloves to wipe after using the restroom because of the fear the virus got on my hand and didn’t wash off.
- Date posted
- 5y
My ocd is already so bad when I get regular cold sores I just fear what it would be like if I got genital sores
- Date posted
- 5y
@trashyocd Honestly, this could have been me that wrote this! It’s my ultimate fear. I had exactly the same as you, a reaction to a washing powder and honestly I couldn’t get out of bed because of the stress of it, I thought about it every waking minute and lost half a stone in a week. Also continuously checking for sores, but I never see anything. I completely relate x
- Date posted
- 6y
I had it I know how it feels I would literally goggle hIV symptoms and feel like I have it But it got diverted to HOCD and now it’s just worse even worse than before. ?
- Date posted
- 6y
Thank you, it helps to know I’m not the only one. Sometimes it makes me feel like I might never have a day that is normal and not full of thoughts about herpes.
- Date posted
- 6y
Yes, agreed. I think it is the uncertainty. I don’t understand how other people are going about their lives without worrying that suddenly they might find out they have herpes, or give it to someone else without knowing they have it themselves. It’s incredibly frustrating, I wish I had never heard of herpes!
- Date posted
- 5y
@?uwotm8? Woah. Wait a minute lol. Most people have hsv1. Hsv2 is the sexually transmitted one and can be spread even when you don't have an outbreak or sore present.
- Date posted
- 5y
@hateocd123 Nearly had a freak out then ?
- Date posted
- 5y
@Bee Charlotte Either one is not really a big deal. I know a few people with HSV2 and they have it under wraps with medication. It's completely manageable and can't be spread if it's being treated.
- Date posted
- 5y
@hateocd123 You don’t have to have hsv2 you can spread it to genitals even if it’s hsv1 - that’s why you can’t go down on someone when you have a coldsore
- Date posted
- 5y
@?uwotm8? Yes, you can spread Hsv1 to genitals, but it's not the classic genital herpes.
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
This fear keeps coming back and it’s to the point I cry and what to panic. I no longer talk to the man simply because I wanted to move on and find something meaningful to have with someone (relationship wise). I still keep fearing I need to go get my blood checked. Thoughts like “what if I have it and don’t know it and give to someone?” “What if that urine test I took months ago didn’t work” I got tested for stds but it came back negative. They took a urine test but google says you have to have your blood drawn!! I’m so scared. My mind tells me “you have HIV” and then a sense of peace comes and scares me even more!!!
- Date posted
- 20w
I suffer with a constant worry of what if I’ve cheated. You name it I’ve thought I’ve done it. I’m quite flirty at nature and also insecure. Sometimes hand in hand I don’t think they balance each other out as the constant need for attention to validate myself can backfire. Although I have the best partner ever and she makes me feel nothing less than beautiful I still crave validation from others. That being said someone I used to work with left over half a year ago and when they worked at my current place of work we were very close. Text everyday, phone calls you name it. However looking back I was extra flirty as I wanted him to fancy me. I wanted the power to turn him down to make myself feel better. Awful I know. Now all I can think about is what if I’ve done something. What if I kissed him. What if I’ve slept with him etc. I’ve kept our whole conversations from the minute I got his personal number. I constantly search key words to see if my intrusive thoughts are real. I can except the uncertainty my therapist tells me about as if I have done the worst and cheated I would loose my partner and our 10 year relationship. I love her so much she is my life but I can’t stop thinking what if I’ve cheated. Does anyone else suffer with the same theme? If so how do you cope?
- Date posted
- 20w
In September I had unprotected oral sex. I haven’t had sex in five years because even before that I was so ashamed and worried about sex. I finally did it and then a few weeks later while I was at work I started to be very itchy all in my underwear area like up to my butt. I didnt see any blisters or anything but when I googled it, herpes came up. Eventually I thought maybe it was the new underwear I bought and it went away after I stopped wearing them. However it’s returned twice, mostly when I’m really worried about herpes. I know this makes little sense because I don’t thinking about it would cause an outbreak but, either way I’m really nervous to go get tested because I heard there’s a high false positive rate and if I get a positive there’s a huge chance I will just become a recluse and never speak to anyone again. I already have so much trauma with sex, vaginismus, etc. I can’t imagine telling anyone I have herpes and then they 1) don’t want to be with me 2) now know this and could tell anyone they want Even if I don’t have it I was reading it could be asymptomatic and 80% of people who have it don’t even know, so now I’m worried I will get it no matter what sex I have. I can barely handle staying alive with just OCD but now with social stigma with herpes I will feel like I can not even live a normal life. I am already freaking out about it and don’t know what to do. I am worried to go get tested and it saying I have it, and then I’m worried to not and potentially spread it, I’m not even having sex with anyone right now so it’s not like I would. But I’m worried I will forget to wash my hands and touch something and someone else will touch it and then get it. I’m just having a really bad time.
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