Don’t blame yourself. Viral spread happens and even condoms aren’t 100% effective, depending on the area it is presenting in. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s something to be ashamed of. The shaming aspect of disease needs to stop, I would have thought we had learned that with HIV. Shame does nothing but harm the communities already affected by these problems, and the treatments get better and better all the time. While some aspects (like potential long-term effects) may be nerve-wracking, they are never a guarantee of that outcome, as there is only correlation and no specific proven causation (that I know of).
The common cold is a virus. Viruses are trickier than bacteria in some ways. The main thing is to remind yourself that while you may have made mistakes, the existence and spread of viruses is not entirely your fault. It is nothing to be ashamed of and anyone pushing shame on you for it is not worth associating with. It would be like someone shaming me for having cancer. It’s absurd.
It may take time to come to terms with and work through your depression, and it may help to talk to a therapist who is familiar with the virus and the shame-culture built around it. The first poster in this thread is right on the money that the stigma came from an advertising campaign promoting antivirals for it. Which, if you are insured, the antivirals are often covered. They will prescribe them based on the frequency and severity of outbreaks
Don’t blame yourself. Viral spread happens and even condoms aren’t 100% effective, depending on the area it is presenting in. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s something to be ashamed of. The shaming aspect of disease needs to stop, I would have thought we had learned that with HIV. Shame does nothing but harm the communities already affected by these problems, and the treatments get better and better all the time. While some aspects (like potential long-term effects) may be nerve-wracking, they are never a guarantee of that outcome, as there is only correlation and no specific proven causation (that I know of).
The common cold is a virus. Viruses are trickier than bacteria in some ways. The main thing is to remind yourself that while you may have made mistakes, the existence and spread of viruses is not entirely your fault. It is nothing to be ashamed of and anyone pushing shame on you for it is not worth associating with. It would be like someone shaming me for having cancer. It’s absurd.
It may take time to come to terms with and work through your depression, and it may help to talk to a therapist who is familiar with the virus and the shame-culture built around it. The first poster in this thread is right on the money that the stigma came from an advertising campaign promoting antivirals for it. Which, if you are insured, the antivirals are often covered. They will prescribe them based on the frequency and severity of outbreaks
Good luck!