Anyone else feel the shame more than the actual sore?
I have had cold sores since I was a teenager and honestly the physical part I can deal with, it is the week of hiding my mouth, canceling plans, and feeling like everyone is staring that wrecks me. Last month I bailed on my sister's birthday dinner because of one and then felt ridiculous for letting a tiny blister run my life. How do you all stop caring so much about it, or do you just learn to live with the awkwardness?
Thank you for sharing. For most people the biggest lever is daily sun protection on the lips, even on cloudy days.
Sleep makes a huge difference for me, more than I expected.
I keep a balm in every pocket now, it really does help.
Honestly yes, I've cancelled plans over one little spot and then felt silly for letting something so small run my whole week. Hearing other people say it out loud helps more than I expected.
Honestly yes, the sore heals in a week but I spend that whole week talking with my hand near my mouth like some kind of magician. It took me way too long to realize most people barely notice, and the ones who do usually just say oh yeah I get those too.
Honestly yes, I can hide the sore under a bit of concealer but I can't hide the way I go quiet and avoid eye contact for a week, that part is so much harder to heal.