Herpes Outbreak: Stress

A significant percentage of people with herpes will experience subsequent outbreaks after their first herpes outbreak.  These outbreaks will vary greatly from person to person in both frequency and severity.   It is quite possible to go months without a single outbreak and then experience several consecutive outbreaks over the next few weeks or months.   There is a lot of debate about why this is, but for the purposes of this article we will limit the discussion to stress and lifestyle factors (which I believe are the single most significant factors in my personal herpes outbreaks).

There are a number of ways to control stress.  The first and most obvious is (if possible) to reduce the stressful factor from your life.  Since this is most often impossible stress reduction techniques can be employed.   Your first line of defense would be to try and get more sleep.   Adequate sleep does amazing things for both your immune system and your stress levels (which are closely tied through hormones).   Research has shown that hours of sleep before midnight are much more beneficial that hours of sleep after midnight.   As such, if you are unable to actual increase your hours of sleep, you could try to get to bed an hour early and set your alarm for one hour earlier to get your hour back.   This single free act alone could be enough to stop a herpes outbreak.

If you are unable to make any changes to your sleep schedule, or feel you are already getting enough sleep, you can add relaxation techniques to your day.  They don’t have to be spiritual or religious and don’t have to take a lot of time.  Even 10 – 20 minutes a day of mediation or guided visualization will do wonders for both your immune system and stress levels.

As you are working to reduce stress and increase sleep, it is important to make sure you are eating the right foods.  You don’t have to change overnight, but so many people eat junk food, fast food, too much food, and then wonder why they can’t get their herpes outbreaks under control.   There are so many resources available for healthy eating; try starting with just one a day and attempt to change your bad habits for good over time.   Most important is to be kind to yourself through this entire process.   Don’t beat yourself up for not starting earlier or for having not so great eating habits.  And if you fall back into bad habits, dust yourself off and start again.   Negative thoughts and feelings can exhaust your immune system, making you more susceptible to a future herpes outbreak.

Last but not least it is important to get enough exercise.  Again, you don’t have to join a gym and start lifting weights five times a week.  Start with a 30 minute walk every other day.   Maybe you can do this in the morning since you are now up an hour earlier each day!   Getting your heart rate up (even through brisk walking) creates endorphins in your body which reduce stress and boost your immune system.  All true!   And you will sleep better as well.

Good luck!

Ads by Google