My Stress, Cold Sores and How I Rid Them
So as a lot of people with cold sores have noticed, stress will trigger cold sores. Not only stress but too much sun on your lips, chapped lips… I’m sure there are a great many reasons they pop up. Those are just the main ones for me.
I’ve had cold sores as long as I can remember. I can recall having them as far back as elementary school. I have been plagued by the embarrassment far longer than anyone cares to. I have used all kinds of lip ointments, chap sticks, gels… Guess where that has gotten me?! I now get cold sores in my nose… what on earth?!
Nothing is worse than that telltale initial tingle. You know the one… That three days before you have some event one. The one that starts to taunt you just before picture day. The little thing laughing at you before your big date, prom, license picture, meeting his/her parents…
That little feeling can cause a real rise in the ol’ anxiety! I have found myself hiding away when I should have been somewhere enjoying myself. I could have been making the next big step in my life… nope. canceled plans, broke dates, miserable because of a little blemish that I found horrific!
When you’re in school, no matter the grade kids are mean. They don’t understand, they don’t care, and they most certainly don’t wanna kiss you. Who would? I didn’t like looking in the mirror when I had a cold sore. Heck I was shy and self conscious without the cold sore.
Thanks life! Throw me a freaking bone once in awhile! I hated feeling like I was gross. Feeling like people were staring at me. Feeling like I’m cursed. Why and how is it that we are so hard on ourselves? That something so stupid as a cold sore can knock us down into such a stupid hole?
Little more back story… I’ve suffered with depression my entire life. Recently my depression has made a new friend named anxiety. (I don’t think they should hang out together…) And yet another friend…Fibromyalgia. (again…not impressed with this) Oh and their pal Idiopathic hypersomnia…(friend quota full!)
All those above things contribute to my stress. All of those things add up and make me more prone to those nasty cold sores because of said stress and pals. Forward to current…I have started taking Acyclovir for my cold sores. Handy to have for sure. Before I was able to get a prescription for them I started something different.
I made a conscience effort to literally will them away. As crazy and impossible as that sounds, I did. The moment I started feeling that tingle I did a few things.
I made a mental note of it.
I took a few breaths and tried to relax.
When I was conscious of my breathing and feeling more relaxed I would think about how I needed to be calm, how I needed to be in the now and try to push away my stress.
These first few moments I would pep talk myself into taking back my stress or pushing it away rather. I’d remind myself that whatever it is that is causing my stress isn’t worth the ten days of a cold sore. Deep Breath! In the end whatever it is WILL work it self out.
I would repeat this several times throughout the day. Some how it worked. The majority of the time it wouldn’t pop up. It helped keep them at bay or drastically reduce the size and duration they lasted.
I’m not saying the stuff out there doesn’t work. What I am saying is that mind over matter can be huge. I have been trying this with a lot of things in my life. This last week has been super stressful. I stressed myself into THREE, yes three cold sores at once!
OOOOH and I almost forgot that I not only get the tingle I get canker sores on my tongue before a cold sore as well! That’s new the last several years… Either way, I knew I had one coming (or three). So I’ve been breathing and willing them away. Thankfully it has worked for the most part. I had minimal blistering and now minimal scabbing because of. YAAAY I call that a win!
If stress is a huge cause of yours it’s hard to just push that away. Everyone deals with pain/stress differently. I know there are many factors that cause stress and I can’t fix those. Just know I have come through and from a lot of stress and crap that I’m learning to overcome.
Ta Ta for now!
Love and Prayers,
The Momma of those black hearts.