Life long? Yes, true.
Contagious? At times, yes. Not always
Forever on suppression: only if the situation is appropriate. If you have sex with someone who also has HSV 2, no need. If you aren’t having sex, no need. If you are having sex with someone who decides they are not concerned about transmission, no need.
Unfair: oh please, don’t even get me started about fair vs unfair in the world.
One positive side that I have heard multiple times is that having herpes requires a postponement of sex in a relationship – needing to wait until one knows if the person hearing the news is one worthy of sharing such private information. It also helps to sort out who is a worthy partner and who is not. If they can’t handle herpes, how would they do with a different more serious medical problem?
Again, I so hope you will share your feelings and fear with your therapist about all of this.
Terri