Zen and Herpes

Herpes is interesting because it is a virus that can be activated by our minds. It is connected to the nervous system, and It benefits from emotional distress. It makes sense that something like stigma would help to fuel it's propagation.

Now, I don't practice transcendental meditation, by I think it could help a lot of people with herpes. If not actual meditation, perhaps some of the principles involved could help.

You can lessen emotional stress by learning to let go of things. Not sweating the small stuff and accepting things that might have irritated you for what they are, and building your life to so that those things don't have a power of you. This could mean changing your perception and expectations of life- internal change.

It also could include external change- leaving behind places, people, things that you can't change for greener pastures. This might me letting go of "toxic" relationships with friends, lovers, clients, etc. Maybe a location change is in the stars for you as well. I'm not saying to run away from problems, but recognize what can and can't be changed, and work from there.

I recall WCSdancer had some thoughts along these lines of incorporating zen mindset type things into dealing with herpes as well. It's not a religious thing, but for lack of a better word, a sort of "spiritual" approach.

This is another opportunity that herpes could present someone with that they might not have considered before. Maybe before herpes you could sublimate your stress, but now you might get breakouts if you are stressed to much. And, the reality is that sublimated stress and tension eventually manifests as some kind of ailment. It's like a biological karma.