Erythrophobia is an unusual and persistent fear of facial blushing or blushing in general. Blushing displays a marked redness of one’s face; the term is seldom applied except when the redness is construed as a result of embarrassment, shame, or modesty. If redness persists for abnormal amounts of time after blushing then it is considered an early sign of rosacea.
Those suffering usually experience anxiety even though they realize that such a fear is irrational. The problem or anxiety stems from worrying about being the focus of attention which may lead to embarrassment. Many who try to hide blushing usually end up making the condition even worse.
People suffering from blushing usually try to avoid social gatherings, public speaking engagements, and other situations that may lead to a large gathering of people. Unfortunately, this can prevent the person from maximizing their full potential or possibly prevent them from moving up the ranks within their organization.
“Erythrophobia” also can refer to fear of the color red because of what it may symbolize, such as blood. The terms “redcoat” (British soldier in the American Revolution) and “red” (synonym for “communist”) gave Americans valid reasons to fear red. Other terms with “red” that have a negative connotation include “redeye” (an overnight air flight), “caught red-handed” (caught with evidence of guilt) “red-herring” (a deceptive tactic), “red ink” (a financial loss) and “seeing red” (angry).
“Erythrophobia” is derived from the Greek “erythros” (red) and “phobos” (fear). “Erythros” also gives us the English words “erythema” (inflammation of the skin that causes reddening) and “erythrocyte” (a red blood cell).
There is a cure for facial blushing, well, it may be a cure for many – Public Speaking. (What! You have to be kidding!) Actually, there is probably a ToastMasters organization close to you which acts as a support group for those that want to overcome this problem. They are a group of people just like you who want to improve their ability to speak in front of others and it’s a way for you to work on the issue on your own time!
Lainey says
My earliest memories of blushing go back to when I was 10 and I’m now 27.
Blushing and erythrophobia have seriously limited my life and effected me in other ways which I didn’t think we’re possible. As a result of feeling unable to control my physiological reactions I have developed some OCD traits in a desperate bid to regain control. I don’t like to have too many personal items as it creates stress and triggers anxiety. I failed in college and didn’t go to university to afraid to answer questions or do presentation. I don’t feel like I’ve reached my full potential.
Blushing is a burden but over the years I’ve learned to hide it well. I’ve tried hypnotherapy and citalopram. Medication did help but wasn’t without its side effects. I’m working on acceptance! It’s not easy
nicole says
I have erythrophobia. I have had it from as far back as i can remember. I cant actually remember not having it. Since i was little it’s just gotten worse and worse. I am now 20 years old and it has made me a nervous wreck. I don’t just blush i go the colour of beet root, i go as red as the devils D.
I go red in front of EVERYONE! Mum, dad, boyfriend, friends, all of my family, new people i meet, anyone i talk to. Ive quit jobs because of it, i worry every day. Sometimes i even think it would be better if i wasnt on this planet anymore as my life has no meaning to it đ i know i sound dramatic or like a drama queen but its true. I paid 70 pounds on hypno therapy and that was rubbish i just went red :/ i am going to see my GP and hopefully she will know what i can do.
I pray to god i get this sorted or there is just no point anymore. I want to meet someone with erythrophobia so i can talk with them about it as i have only ever told 1 friend but we just laugh about it and make jokes and i go along with it but its just not funny for me as it has ruined every bit of life i have in me.
Spadix says
Finally after months of waiting to see another post and checking it almost daily, I am writing it again myself.
I welcome the next person who reads this and I understand what you are going through becuase we are all the same!!
My blushing has increased since I first figured it about a year back, and yes, it has become so intense that I am constantly worried about almost everything. This month I am having holidays of festivals and right now, I have already anticipated every situation where I’ll be and every excuse I can use to get me out of these embarrassing situations. I have already decided the places, relatives and friends I feel most comfortable visiting..Oh God, it’s so frustrating!
This is the only thing in life that I have been serious about..I am feeling and living with it every second of my life and it is depressing.
All these days, I have thought about seeing a therapist, doing meditation, or go on antidepressants but I could do nothing. I simply tried to feel that I am not the odd one among my friends but God, I am not what I try to make myself out to be or feel.
I can neither share it with my friends nor my family. Forget about my girlfriend…Sorry I cant write further!!
Please do write anybody anywhere, I am constantly checking the site!
This is the only hope and relief..
Spadix says
Jackie, just read your feelings and I am not surprised to hear…Cz what I feel is this disease is top of the list of anything ever existed. Only we people understand each other. I don’t want to share how I feel cz it is “exactly” the same each and every feelings and situations. On top of that I am going to be a Doctor and I fear what kind of that will be…
And yeah, you said my words, I like to have dinner and have fun and blush and flush freely in a room with friends like you someday!
Plz lets keep this discussion alive.
Benny says
I suffered with this awful condition all throughout middle school and high school up until about a year ago( I’m 24 now) It is extremely painful and was destroying my life. I had to quit my job, move back in with my parents and was spiraling into a pit of depression, anxiety and self hate. I tried a few SSRIs but they didn’t do much if anything for me and I had some bad side effects. I even thought very seriously about getting ETS surgery which is extremely risky.
Finally my doctor prescribed me propranolol which is a medication typically used to treat high blood pressure or anxiety for public speaking. It helps control a shaky voice and hands but most importantly it has basically cured my blushing. It’s amazing! I take about 40mg once or twice a day. I recommend talking to your doctor about it… Mine was hesitant at first because people usually just take it for presentations and such but it was totally changed my day to day life. I hope this helps someone reading this.
I came to this page almost two years ago reading through all the stories, searching for answers and some kind of cure and no one seemed to have found anything. I still blush a bit time to time but it is very rare and nothing like the horror I used to live day in and day out. I can go to the grocery store and wait in line without panicking and hating myself for blushing. I actually got a job where I have to talk to alot of people every day, I never thought I’d be able to do this.
Propranolol doesn’t get rid of the feelings of anxiety going on in your mind however, it only manages the physical symptoms of blushing. You still have to push yourself to let go of the fear and anxiety that blushing has caused you. Its funny because when I first put myself in those situations where I was used to blushing I would still feel the adrenaline and heat rush to my face but when i checked myself in a mirror or asked those around me I discovered I actually wasn’t blushing at all.
Good luck to you
Mary says
I m 29 years old now n i m suffering frm it severly since was 16 .. i lost my selfcofidence n self esteem coz of it.everybody made fun of me n some showed sympathy ,a few misunderstood my blushing as there was no apparent reason for it,, i lost my peace of mind i cant overcome it.i wish there should b sum treatment i could n ten never blush again like others around me,i had to give up many things almost everything coz of it.it made my life hell,
Christina says
Hey guys,
I have been dealing with blushing since middle school. It just recently got really bad over the past year (I’m 24).
I have been seeing a therapist and have been on Zoloft, Ativan and beta blockers over the past 6 months. I have noticed a SMALL difference…maybe not even at all.
If anyone wants to talk, please write. Its nice to know we’re not alone.
Christina
rather not tell because of shame says
my situation is worse. i am christian and everybody thinks i am a very happy person. i am the only one in this world who knows about this problem. i have tried to ignore this problem everyday but i cant. it is too much for me. i work in a public store and when i see people i know my face is totally red and again try to hide it. i dont want to go out and enjoy what i like because of this disease. i wish this could have a cure. by the way im spanish so excuse my spelling.
Mahmoud says
Hi everyone
I am in the same position exactly. I am now 32 years old, and I remember how kids at school used to notice my blushing. Unfortunately, I feel now that the problem has only got worse. I have just realised the medical name for this issue.
What makes things even worse is that this would be less of an issue with girls, but I am a man. It is so frustrating, and the problem is that not everyone is understanding: people sometimes bring my blushing to attention and joke about it, not knowing that it can be quite frustrating.
The only thing I wish for is that people become more aware that this is something serious.
jj says
jackie-
i have been through a virtually identical experience to yours. it is so exhausting and debilitating. it takes courage to talk openly about this condition… a big thankyou to those that have done; i guess it makes everyone feel a little more normal.
Maria says
i have the same problem…no fancy speech sorry! just wanted all of you beautiful people to know you can add another one on to your list (cause i know it gives some comfort) xxxxxxx godbless us all x
Luke says
Jackie?
I would somehow like to get in touch, you said you needed to talk with someone and for an email.
I have suffered with this for over 20 years. Your story effected me a lot, I relate completely. There is no cure but life can be beautiful, we need people in our lives who understand us. Don’t suffer alone
Hug
liz says
wow, i’m amazed the fact we all have this problem. i had no idea there was a name for it..so as a few seconds ago i am now diagnosed with Erythrophobia like the rest of you.
I’m 24 years old soon but this problem started about 5 years ago. throughout the years it has always made me feel suicidal, had a few attempts but i’m still here, and thank God. i was always very outgoing as well, lots of friends, good life…now i keep myself hidden at home and in my room. these days i rather not work or go to any outings. i’m sick n tired of the way people (including my family/friends sad to say) look at me, talk about it like i cant hear them, laugh, joke..etc.
So now i’d really love to know how to fix this and come “normal” again. meds/surgery/something!!! its really good to know this site is out there, honestly i just found it by google. hang in there to the rest of you here…
itsjackie says
Leah,
i don’t want you to read my story and feel as though no one gets better or gets through this condition, and that everyone feels the way i do. Being in middle school with this problem sounds hard. But people do get through this. Try not to think about the times you’ve blushed and putting yourself down. In the moment when you feel like your going to blush, take a very deep breath, in and out. If this is really a big problem for you know, talk to your mother and tell her you would like to see a therapist, therapists really work this this kind of stuff ok hun? Esp. that being young, you can nip this in the butt as soon as you can!!
Leah says
Hey, I’m 12 and I use to be so outgoing and put up my hand to answer all the questions in class, talk to guys but now I’m insecure and have a lack of self confidence because of blushing! If the teacher calls on me (which is like everyday and I don’t know why she ALWAYS picks on me) my face gets super hot and red, everyone stares at me then I answer the question very slowly because I will start welling up tears because I get really embarrassed. Also there is this guy that I used to talk to and hang out with but now he hates me and thinks I’m weird and makes fun of me so whenever I see him or even hear his voice I get really nervous and blush.
When I am around classmates that I’m not really friends with I’m fine but when I’m around friends or popular people I get red if I laugh or say something that no one seems to care about then everyone gives me a weird look. When people say your face is red or laugh at me I get even more red! I cry myself to sleep almost every night because I hate blushing so much and I feel like I can’t be myself anymore and I feel like blushing has taken over my life!!!
My mom said she was like this but nothing she says helps and my case is much more severe! I think I suffer from social anxiety… đ if I calm myself down and relax sometimes that helps me from blushing and sometimes I don’t even go to the garbage can to sharpen my pencil because I’m too scared that everyone will look at me and I will get red I have to try really hard to not cry when answering a question the teacher asks and I really don’t know what to do, I don’t want to go through my life like this!
jackie says
hey everyone,
I don’t know about anyone else but watching Brandon’s story really effected me. I cried and cried, it almost felt like i lost someone really close to me because of this sad, exhausting phobia that we all share. I’m a 22 year old girl, who goes to school full time and work full time. I’ve had this problem since i was about 16, so for about 7 years. It has really taken a toll on my life. I don’t want to not give hope to people, but i want to share my story so if someone feels as lost and hopeless as i do, maybe they don’t have to feel so alone.
I use to be such an outgoing person, always the center of attention, had many friends, was a cheerleader in high school, loved to laugh, loved to be around people, loved socializing. That one panic attack/blushing attack I had in a class room led to another attack, then another, then soon as you know it i drop out of high school, and I’m stuck in this scary isolated dream feeling alone, crazy, paranoid, and lost.
There came a time where I said “eff this” and tried to face the world, because I felt guilty thinking about other people in this world who were worse off, with life threatening diseases and so on. Got a job, got my GED, got back in touch with a few friends, eventually went to college. During these few years I would have attacks everyday. Sometimes twice a day, sometimes ten times a days. I started obsessing about it everyday.
Although this condition my seem silly and “stupid” to some people. To me, its ruining my life. I feel like this phobia contradicts with who i REALLY am deep inside. I’m actually a witty, fun, person. But this phobia is hindering who i am. Things I want to say I don’t because I fear turning red, things I want to do i don’t because I fear of turning red. This phobia and condition is SO EXHAUSTING, mentally and physically. It literally consumes my mind at all times, I end up inside my head all day.
My attacks are so unpredictable at times, but i also know when I will blush which actually makes me blush anyway because i think and feel like I’m going to blush. its such a vicious cycle and mind blowing. my phobia and condition has gotten so bad there came a time when i got really red while laughing in front of my best friend when i was about 17; she said “why are you so red and started laughing”, ever since then I’ve had a fear of laughing because of my fear of blushing. this condition has taken away my humor!! =[ I love laughing , and it took that from me, I’ve taken that from myself because I’ve let this condition get the best of me.
I’ve had two really good therapist whom i talked to about this, they helped a lot, understood, and cared. I’ve told my sister…and that is it. I have a few friends, but they don’t know, or at least i didn’t tell them. It got to a point last year where I couldn’t take it anymore, not only did I have this phobia, but it had turned into severe anxiety, severe depression and social anxiety.
Last summer I ended up isolating myself all summer, on depression pills, anxiety pills, sleeping pills. I just couldn’t stand where my life had gone because of this horrible condition. My friends would call, I didn’t answer, my family was confused because they didn’t know why I was so upset all the time, besides my sister. I was living in a nightmare and i felt like i would never get out. I ended up trying to take my life last summer. overdosed and ended up on life support, my family was preparing for my death. But, I got through it and ended up in a mental hospital.
After the hospital and given a second chance, I figured I would try my hardest to accept the life i was given, try to cope, and deal with this phobia. And i did for about 10 months, I had blushing attacks probably the same amount as I always had, but the difference was, when i had one i wouldn’t obsess over it, i wouldn’t let it get the best of me and get me depressed I kept telling myself that I am who i am, everyone has their flaws and quirks, this is mine.
Maybe because I got off of medication when i got back from the hospital because I felt like the pills were making me feel disconnected, out of it, zombie-like, which led me more prone to panic because i didn’t feel in control. 10 months later, not on pills, have a full time job, and starting up school again, i feel like I’m back to the place i was before the hospital, disconnected, in my mind, paranoid, scared to blush, obsessing over every attack, obsessing and blushing, and obsessing and blushing to the point where i feel like have no personality, no motivation to talk to anyone.
I feel like this reoccurring nightmare is back and its in full force. And to know that there is no cure of this besides a risky ets surgery that could lead to more problems, makes me feel very hopeless. Although I know other people in this world has this. I feel so alone because in my world, with the people in my life, nobody understands. I probably sound like the biggest negative Nancy, but this phobia and condition has effected my life so intensely.
It’s not even the blushing that has me exhausted, it the planning, hiding, avoiding, preventing, preparing. I don’t like bright lights, I avoid situations that trigger my blushing, which is everything that has to do with people, my flight or flight response is intense. The people I feel comfortable around knows who i really am, but people i don’t feel comfortable around sees a shy, scared, disconnected person. I shed glimpses of my inner personality to people here and there and act normal at times, but this condition always gets me to the point where I’m labeled the shy person, but the person inside just wants to break out!
It’s so frustrating to live this life when you can’t live up to your potential, it truly is sad. =[ I’m going school for psychology because maybe I want to figure out myself but at the same time I would love to find a cure or help people with this condition, but all who feel the same as me, it would be so scary to face life with people knowing about this secret.
I wish we could find something. I wish all of us could get in a room together and blush together and feel comfortable and talk about it =p I wish chronic blushing was accepted and understood. =x
This is a novel, sorry! Needed to get this out. I would love an email, I really need to talk to someone who understands a little of what I’m going through and have been through. I wish I could help myself or anyone on here who’s struggling. I know i have a really bad case of this erythrophobia as you can tell. I just hope everyone else out there and coping with this well, and trying there best to push through everyday and never give up. that’s what I’m trying to do. We only have ONE life to live, this is what I tell myself lately.
* wish i could give out a hug to everyone in the middle of a blushing attack, a big comforting, understanding hug.
<3
joanne says
I suffer from severe blushing, i wont go out anywhere near to were i live in case i see someone i know if i want to simply go to the park with my 2 year old it has to be in another town,i sit their at night thinking the effect it will have on my son and tell myself tomorrow will be a better day but never is, I’ve suffered all my life i am 40 now and really hoped it would get better with age, it’s making me so depressed.
Xiomara says
Feels good to know im not the only one that gets red i hate it so much and then people would be like your really red and then they make fun of me đ
Anna says
Ok, so I’m in high school and this blushing issue has unfortunately been part of my life for quite a long time now. The fact that so many people are going through the same thing is reassuring, but I just don’t think it’s enough for me to be able to completely put the issue to rest in my mind. I have read a lot of the comments and can COMPLETELY associate with a lot of the scenarios described.
Like, I’ll be afraid to go into town because I might bump into someone and have to talk to them while they get the wrong impression because of the blushing. Or, like, I can’t come face to face with the guy I like because I’m embarrassed to see him see me turning red. And I mean, I’ve kissed a guy before, but it was really nothing, and honestly, I’m a teenager, I WANT to be around guys and date and everything.
That leads into another one of my hugest fears. What if I cant find myself a husband in the future because I’ll be too afraid to be around him!!? I talk to my mom about this all the time, and she said she used to have the same problem when she was younger, but she always says things like “Oh your sooo sociable though, your fine” and she doesn’t understand how MUCH it actually happens when I’m not around her.
For now, I am trying my hardest NOT to avoid situations and be afraid of it to just see if I can grow out of it, but every time it happens I just get pushed down again. I really hope at some point It’ll just stop. But for everyone else out there that is going through the same problem, just try and keep conquering it! Whatever you do, DONT isolate yourself, it’ll just get a ton worse! When your talking to someone, be like, “okay, they see me turning red, so what?” and just carry on with the conversation like its nothing. Thats what I do!
Jeannette says
I am so relieved to have the opportunity to discuss this issue. I was on the computer last week and happen to see the article about Brandon. It made me cry. Before last week I did not know what my prblem was. I’m 32 years old and have suffered from this for years. Last year I went to the doctor for a routine check up and she noticed I had high blood pressure. It was just my blushing, but she got very concearned and ordered blood tests and even a CT scan of my head! I tried to explain to her that I just get nervous. She just could not understand why I got so red. She even tested me for cancer. Now next time I see her I will tell her I figured out what it is.
John says
Hey there, I have suffered from this condition all my life. I find it hard too go to work and will easily be embarrassed about everything.
I’m now at a stage in my life where I want to just leave where I live. I know that wherever I go, I’ll take what I call my dark passenger. I’d love too hear of a cure!
Bella says
I don’t want to promote underage drinking, but for those who are of legal drinking age, I have found that drinking some wine or alcohol lessens my social anxiety, and therefore lessens the blushing. Thankfully I only blush from my neck down, so I always try to wear my hair down in social situations. I have learned to embrace this, and I even tell people “I bet I’m turning red, right?” just to beat them to the punch. Then they ask me if I’m ok, and I explain to them that that happens to me because I’m shy, which is the truth. I feel I have control by telling them this before they have a chance to mention it. Now that I know that this actually has a name, I will try to learn it, so that I can educate more people about it.
Throughout the years, I’ve let go of trying to look perfect all the time and I’ve learned to not care too much about it, and I haven’t experienced this as much. I see it like a little kid that wants attention, and I just don’t want to give the phobia that benefit. Grab this phobia by the horns and tell it “I CONTROL YOU!” I hope this helps you. And if this those happen to you, do escape to the restroom look in the mirror and think of somewhere peaceful, talk you way out of this stress. Think of a peaceful beach somewhere or somewhere cold (because we do tend to feel hot). You will see that you are able to subdue the redness. Eventually you will master this.
If all else fails, think of the positive, It’s better to surround yourself with people that truly care about you, like friends and family that make you feel comfortable. I hardly blush around my immediate friends and family.
Good Luck to all! I hope my words provide hope and encouragement to atleast one person. God Bless You!
Brandon, I am so sorry, it was a kind gesture of you to do this so that more people would know about this phobia. I hope you know now about God’s kindness.
Patti says
So heartbreaking to read Brandon’s story. My story reads much like JC’s posting. The “panic and flee”. When I feel my face turning red, that’s all I can think about. I don’t hear the conversation I’m supposed to be having with the other person or persons…I only think about how I must look to them and I get even more red in the face. It’s absolutely crazy! I get so mad at myself because I think I should be able to overcome this. But no…
Dave says
I am 47 years old and I just found out today that I suffer from Erythraphobia. Unbelievable!! My heart goes out to this young man. When we are trapped and everyone is staring us down, we shrink but have to come out fighting at any cost. His fight cost him his life. I have been luckier, but if I could have, I would have jumped out a window to escape the judgement of all the people on how bright red my face, ears, and neck got (even though there was no judgement, it is all in my head).
That haunting voice of a terrified kid yelling inside my head, ” They See It! They See Me!” Then when one says “Boy are you Red.” That’s my trigger to spiral out of control. My whole adult life has been motivated by not blushing. Avoiding necessary confrontations. Letting my face get a sunburn so they cant see the blushing. It’s awful and it has shaped me to who I am today. Although very successful and a member of Executive Staff for a manufacturing company, I know longer want to Fear the Red!
JC says
First of all I feel so bad for the family of Brandon Thomas who was afflicted by this condition, my condolences to them…
I have had this since elementary school and haven’t spoken to anyone about it until now because I thought I was a rarity. All of you here speaking about it, I have had almost every one of the things you talk about happen to me also! Sometimes it feels that your head might just explode out, IT IS MISERABLE! It is like a major “panic and flee” situation, BUT in an importnat business meeting YOU CAN’T JUST FLEE THE ROOM BECAUSE YOU MIGHT LOSE YOUR JOB!!! I absolutely DREAD business meetings because of this condition!!! I can see that I am not alone on this now….thank you all who have responded! Just being able to talk about it now will HELP A GREAT DEAL, THANK YOU!
For future encouragement, next time you all get a blush attack just think about this blog and how many people are with you and that will help calm you down.
JC
Michael says
Although my memory does not go very far back, I feel I have had this problem for as long as I can remember. It is the most frustrating thing ever. Probably the worst thing for me, and possibly for others on here as well, is thinking that we are alone.
Whenever I take stock of recent events (i.e. school days), it always feels as if I’m trying to plan out the day from the minute I wake up, to decide when I’m more likely to blush excessively and,therefore, what things to avoid. Although I have never skipped lessons, sometimes I wish I could time travel and skip those lessons even if it would affect my learning.
As well as this, I always find myself being extra nice to anybody who speaks to me simply because there is a chance they would not say anything about the redness because I’m being friendly.
To everybody out there who has read this and feels similar to me or has had these kind of experiences, the sheer number of comments here gives me some sort of inner belief that this can be fought, and that we can maximize ourselves to reach our full potential. Stay strong!!!
(If anybody wants to chat, I’d love to!!)
Samantha says
Okay, where do I begin. All my childhood I moved around. So I was put into different schools. So I always just kept to myself. Until I was in 6th grade I stayed in one state, one city, and one school. So thats where my shyness came from. So I was the new girl, no friends yet. And all of a shdden when someone would talk to me, I got make mega shy and my fca would start feeling hot. They would state at me like I was a freak. then in high school my friends had gotten used to it, but I didnt. I always tried to avoid the teachers gaze so they wouldn’t call on me. Whenever they did, I felt fine, at first. Then more eyes would fall on me. It sucked so much, I hated it.fast forward to now. I have been reading online about confidence and stuff. And how to avoid blushing. They say embrace it. So when I get red or my face gets really hot, I try to embrace it. Unfortunatly, it only makes me think more about it, thus making it worse, along with my anxiety. So if there is a “cure” for this, I know for a FACT we all need it. Oh and I am 21 year old female. So trying to flirt with a guy isn’t that easy.
Starr says
I just turned 21 and I have been blushing since middle school. I don’t remember how it happened but I know that my life has been uneasy since. In middle school, even someone calling my name would make me blush. i was so insecure because i had severe acne.
today i am in college and it is hard for me to speak up in class. i took a marriage class last semester and i was one of only 3 married women in a class of about 35 students. whenever ppl had questions about marriage they would look at me and the other 2 girls to answer it. i hated that class. i missed one class because it was about sex and i just felt too uncomfortable to even speak about it.
i would always be on the edge of my seat in that class since the class sat in a circle so everyone can see each other and speak. i would try to sit somewhere that most of the class couldn’t see me but that was hard to do. also i would wear my hair down so that i can cover the sides of my face in case i would blush. at the end of the class i tried to be the last one to leave so that noone would notice the sweat i left on the seat from being so nervous.
the whole entire class time i was scared the teacher would call my name. it was horrible! when I’m nervous i blush and sweat. it’s awful. I’ve skipped class because of this, i don’t have much friends.. it’s hard suffering from this. my dad had this when he was younger and it was passed down to me. i refuse to let this disorder get the best of me. i want to overcome this but i don’t know how. i tried to speak up in class and when i do i feel better and i won’t blush for the rest of the class. but when the next day comes i feel insecure all over again and i start feeling the same.
i hope more scientific research can be done so that people don’t have to spend their lives hiding. i hate knowing that people know when i’m nervous, embarrassed, flustered, etc because my blushing gives it all away. and a big middle finger to those that point it out aloud. it makes it worse!
Cindy M. says
From a scale of 1-10 mine is a million on how red my face gets đ it happens for no reason..i hate presentations, meeting new
People, teachers using my name as an example, birthdays, sports. I love when the bell rings to go home it amazing just the feeling when you are alone i cant explain it! I heard people with erythrophobia are actually quite smart because they think and notice what others don’t !
If anyone with the same problem would please contact me, I would appreciate sharing stories to help me knowing that im not alone.
Laura says
Ever since i started high school i have been really concious about going red. I have really pale skin and really blonde hair. It all started when i have to talk about a hobby infront of the class and everyone started whispering and talking while i was in the middle of it and then someone shouted out ‘hahaha look at te red faced tomato’.
From then on people used to point out whenever i would go red and of course that would make it worse. I don’t know what to do i even went into boots and asked about that green cream but they tries some on and it didn’t do much and they told me that it was natural thing to do. Obviously no-one is really going to understand.
I know i’m being dramatic but i really want just to stop appearing so red! There is a prom and the end of my year because I’m in the last year of high school and i while all my friends are searching for prom dresses i’m searching for a cure to my redness. Does anyone know what make up i could wear or anything i could do to make it any better.
Willie says
Hey Natalie
What medicine are you actually using?
I would like to look into it
Kimberly says
wow so nice to know I’m not alone! I’m 47 and have had this since i was a child. I have done nothing with my life because of this I was so pretty when i was younger and could of been a model, but instead turned to drugs and alcohol to be able to approach people.
Afraid to death to go to stores, never got married that would mean I would have to be sociable and do things that normal people do. I’m on klonopin that helps but really, where do I begin? I love wigs and sunglasses and always wished I had a friend or boyfriend to do things with. I’m so glad you people are out there. So nice to finally fit in!
john says
I just came across this article and the subsequent comments. I thought this was a problem only I had experienced during my life. I have suffered from extreme blushing intermittently throughout my entire life, starting in grade school. I then became so aware of my blushing that it became even worse. Even in situations that were not considered embarrassing, just the thought that I may blush would cause that reaction. As you can imagine, this was very embarrassing and affected how I lived my life.
The condition also impacted my career as I would avoid many situations that could have advanced my career. I spoke to my doctor about my anxiety problems and she prescribed Paxil, which is an SSRI. I must say this drug has been a miracle for me. My career and personal life greatly improved. However, there are side effects which must be considered.
I would love to get off this drug, but I am afraid the condition would return. I just wanted to share this as an option for you and one that has performed very well for me.
vy says
its so glad to know that i am not the only one with this problem even though there’s no cure from all the testimonials I’ve read above. =( but i have noticed, it will completely gone when no one notice or point at it. at least that was my experience. i had the flushes back in high school and its suddenly disappear when i was in uni (a totally new environment, meeting new people, no one know i have this blushing problem) but now i am back in town, and it started to come back. its so annoying
Collin says
Wow I thought I was 1 in a million. I guess alot of people are dealing with the same issue, which is somewhat comforting. I think confidence plays a large roll in my blushing. I try to keep my head held high, and try not to think about it. Blushing always is lingering in my mind, like some sort of stress or life hurdle i can seem to overcome. I plan to see a doctor. I think I might have a stress problem, which is making me feel uncomfortable all the time. My mother thinks I just have high BP. even though physically speaking I am in good shape.
Lindsey says
The first time I remember my blushing becoming a problem was when I was a senior in high school (17). I remember the whole class whispering something personal about me, and the problem only got worse from there. I distinctly remember one girl in my class several months later saying, “why is her face all red?” and that is the voice I hear whenever I blush.
I am almost 22 years old now, and although my blushing has gotten better because I have talked about it, I still feel like it is holding me back from a lot. I get severe anxiety before giving a presentation and am anxious for my future because I am going to be a social worker, and I will need to work with people on a daily basis.
I must say it is so comforting that so many other people have this same issue, because I really thought I was the only one.
Lamine says
My condition is a little bit different. I sweat a lot when I’m confronted to situations when I have to speak in meetings, in front of people or even at dinner with my family. I remember that I didn’t have this problem before. I used to perform plays and to have fun with friends. I spoke at my ease in front of big amount of people. This condition started with me after the university. Could it be physiological??
todd says
Great to read all these comments about this condition. For me I think it’s both psychological and physiological. I’ve always struggled with this, and used alcohol to self-medicate, but that only made matters worse. I quit drinking and the blushing has almost completely disappeared. A lot of it had to do with self-confidence, etc. but some is physiological because I still feel warm in the face from time to time. It’s nothing like the blushing I used to have but there is something about my body make up that makes me feel this way. I hate to say it but the best treatments I’ve heard about (from those suffering from primarily the psychological aspect) are anti-anxiety meds, exposure therapy and confidence building. Joining toastmasters or just trying not to focus on the shame seems to work. good luck everyone…
Lyn says
I’m 15, I’ll be 16 in a month, and every time I get even the slightest bit embarrassed my whole entire face and upper chest goes tomato red. I can’t even do all the things I love without feeling uneasy inside.
This has been happening for about 3 years now and every time it happens someone says something and I feel like everyone is making fun of me because of it. I play multiple instruments and I love to preform but every time I do I have a little anxiety attack and just have to push through. There have been many times I can’t even kiss my boyfriend because I feel to un-ordinary.
My family doesn’t have money for a doctor of any sort. Is there a way I can help my issue myself?
christine says
Mine started in Sept. of 1962 Yes 50 years ago, when mental health was an anathema and nobody listened. It has gotten better and worse. Though I managed to get married and raise 2 children my fear has kept me from enjoying most of my life, sometimes to the point where only a greater fear stopped me from committing suicide. I urge all you young sufferers find someone to talk to, someone who will actually listen to you. Far better than drugs and alcohol.
I have tried cognitive therapy, yoga, psychiatrists and psychologists. Do they help, not significantly but they do keep the despair at bay. Despair is your enemy, I know it’s hard but you have to keep as positive as possible and keep as busy as possible even if you hate and dread every event. As a wise lady told me, blushing won’t kill you even if it makes you feel like you are dying inside. I hope that for you there is a cure. I wish you all the very best.
Amy says
Mine started from December 2010 I burnt my face badly on the sunbed with nearly 3 degree burns & whenever someone as simple as shouts my name I go red I’m really fed up of it I want to be able to just go out with my head held high & not care if someone walks up to me to ask a question or anything for that matter.
my mum thinks if I do anything about it I should go counseling & try sort it out that way. I did get some tablets off my doctor but my mums friend had a problem getting off them & was addicted.. so don’t fancy going down that path.. I try to think positive all the time & think why will I but I go red faster than my brain can think to stop it, very annoying. I relate to a lot of you!
Amy says
Hi Clara,
A doctor is a great idea, but which doctor is the question. Some will look at this as an opportunity to make a commission off of a surgery and recommend drastic measures (which are NOT necessary), others will offer honest advice and help. You should start visit drmom4you.com and ask her, she is a real doctor (and Mom) helping on her free time! Please let me know what she says.
Clara says
Hey, im a 17 year old girl and im so glad that im not the only one experiencing this! Ive suffered from it for a few years now, just blaming it on shyness until just recently when ive become super self conscious about it. Especially when people point it out, i become embarrassed about looking embarrassed. Im in my last year of high school and would LOVE IT if i could enjoy my last year without having to worry about what people think of me. I now longer wear my hair up, as a means of covering it up and im sick of it! Does anyone have any pointers or ideas that could help me? Would you recommend me seeing a doctor about it?
If anyone can help, please do so! (:
ricardo johnson says
i am 16 years old guy,i have a twin brother in same class ,we also have girls in our class ,i always blush whenever i talk a word or someone talks to me which makes me feel so much shame that even girls have more confidence and make fun of me and can talk comfortably ,i wish if anxone with help me and let me feel free
Thanks
natalie says
hi freddy i do think the medication is helping i dont find myself getting red in the face in some situations where i normally would but in severe situations like an interview i still do becuase there is so much focus on me for such a long period of time that i cant really control it. i know it sounds stupid but i am starting to meditate and do yoga so im hoping that by relaxing my body and mind maybe i can control the (blushing) when it happens i think everyone should give it a shot becuase maybe its all mental for all of us and we can actually control it. i notice that i dont get red when im outside having group talks or public setting so i thought to myself what is it about a resturant or like walmart that trigger it so bad? idk its just a thought lol. please comment more i love talking to people about it đ
Matt H says
Its nice to know that other people struggle with erythrophobia. From reading just a few of the responses I can relate to a lot that is said about getting red or embarrased in front of people, family, etc. I can particularly relate to a lot of what Natalie has posted. Thanks for sharing your struggles and for everyone else who leaves comments on this forum.
Robert says
Hi, Ellie, Tierney, Natalie, and Freddy. I started to have my face red since I was in the 5th grade, when I had a very embarrassing moment when I was taking the sport jacket off but I ended up removing my T-shirt as well and my skin appeared starting from my stomach till my neck and unfortunately, everyone in the class was looking and laughing at me (don’t laugh -.- lol)
Since then, whenever I had a presentation in school, my face would turn red, and later in the last 2 years at high school, whenever it was my turn to solve a math problem on the board, I would hear students whispering, I would think they are talking about me and I lose confidence so I speak my thoughts loud (related to the math problem to make them shut up đ )
When I went to university, the first presentation I had, my face turned red and started sweating, and my hands were shaking. During the other presentations (except one), I would get nervous and the same thing would happen over and over but my hands wouldn’t shake anymore.
Nowadays, I am looking for a job and whenever I have a job interview, I feel very calm, relax, prepared, I cannot be cornered even with the most difficult questions and still my face would get red and sweat for few minutes before I get normal again
Freddy says
Hi natalie, i have seen a dr. that have recommended anxiety and blood pressure medication that does not work, my problem seems to be getting worse because my face heats up even without me feeling anxiety, im still trying to look into a procedure.. is that medicaton working for you?
natalie says
Hey Tierney!!! i hope we can keep talking on here! I’ve been checking daily to see if other people will start commenting after mine. A
Administrator, is there any way i can get in touch with this person other than commenting back and forth on here? anyways i think it would be interesting to talk on here for now.
When did your blushing start? mine started I think around 7th grade. I got really bad acne and from that point i got so paranoid about people starring at me from then on it got worse and it wasn’t just strangers, i didn’t even like family starring at me for long periods of time.
I quit my job recently and i tried to get two other jobs but quit both because i didn’t like the interaction with people so i went back to the old job. luckily there was no interview process or else i wouldn’t even been able to quit to begin with. I keep thinking how am i going to find a real job and go through a real interview without blushing!!! ugh!
I always sit on the inside booth at restaurants (that’s if i even go i rarely like eating out) so i can stare at the wall if i feel my face turning red and use my hair to shield it. I do the same thing, pretending to be on the phone if i know someone, i actually did that the other day at Walmart and then i just feel like such a jerk for not trying to talk to them. My boyfriend introduced me to one of his good friends and i was ok for like 3 seconds then i pretended i had a phone call and stayed in the bathroom till he was ready to go đ . i wont make this too long…I’d like to hear from you again soon đ
Tierney says
Natalie-I read through all of your comments-you know how people say they have a twin? I think you’re mine! I can’t remember the last time I wore my hair up, i scan everywhere to make sure i don’t see anyone i know bc i know ill get red, walmart is a big no-no for me, high school was a nightmare, i try to stay outside as much as possible, christmas dinner with everyone there is horrifying, don’t even get me started on my job. Whenever I sit somewhere, I always make sure that I have “a way out” or sit next to a wall so that way I can put my hand on one side of my face to shield it from everyones stares. And I would sit in front of the class in high school so that way no one could turn around to look at me. What makes me the most mad is how i go red in front of my family. I HATE IT. Even going into a gas station to pay for gas terrifies me just incase i run into someone i know. I would really like to ask them how they’ve been, what theyre doing etc, but I know my face would get red, so everytime i have to go inside somewhere, i pretend that i am on my cell phone. how pathetic is that? i wish there was a way to just turn it off
Ellie says
I blush all the time but I don’t actually blush when I ask somebody in a shop about something. My blushing is ruining my life because I don’t go into conversations because i will go red. If my teacher asks me a question I will go red. I don’t go red outside only inside but I can’t seem to make my body temperature cool down. I just want it to stop! And when somebody says that I’m going red, I go redder. I haven’t been to a doctor because my mum doesn’t know about my problem. I am a 14 year old girl and this problem with stop me from doing things in school, like doing presentations and standing up in front of the class. I have tried breathing techniques but when I go red I can’t think about anything else apart from going red. Is there a good cure?
natalie says
hey harley i just one day got fed up with the embarrassment of the blushing so i went to my regular doctor and just described everything to him. the fear of being in public places with tons of people…mine is at its worst when i am in resturants or places with really bright lighting like schools for instance or like walmart. i cant really have one on one conversations with people because i hate being the center of attention so i try to keep the focus off me the whole time. i just told him about my face turning red and the anxiety i feel when it happens and like i said in the previous comment he reccomended me a medication the controls my heart when it starts going out of wack. if you notice when your face turns red your heart is beating really fast and he said the the medication just helps control that… nothing serious he reccomends it to people with stage fright
Harley says
Hey guys, my name is Harley and im 17 years old living in ny. my blushing problem srated in middle and it was at worst. i liked like boy and whenever i saw him i would get red and he used this against me. i would get red continuously in front of him and my classmates. And thats where it all started. im in my senior year in high school and lived in this fear and didnt know it was a phobia until i read this article! i would get red in classes, if im the center of attention or if someone picks on me. I hate it and i cry about it sometimes :'(. I really need help. should i go to my doctor and tell her about it? which doctor do i go to??? pleasee help
natalie says
hi freddy are you able to go see a doctor at all. i am taking a heart medication that seems to be helping. my doctor told me that he reccomends it to people who have stage fright. there isnt anything wrong with my heart he just said that when your heart starts pumping thats when the blood starts rushing to your face so it helps control that.
Freddy says
Hi Im Freddy, im 20 yrs old and I am going thru the same thing for the last 2 years. My condition has been getting worse worse as time goes by i heat up everytime i step into any indoor place, or when i get out of the shower. I’m constantly looking at my face and seeing how red it is. I know alcohol is a trigger but it also relaxes me and it used to be my only cure, but now it seems to not be working anymore. I had to drop out of college because i would never go to class. I’m terrified to look for a better job in fear of having to go thru an interview and meeting new people. I can’t even go to the store cause i start panicking in fear of running into someone familiar and getting red faced..
I am now considering the surgery but am scared of the side affects.. and i dont want to go to therapy cause that’s for crazy people, and I’m not crazy..
It is a good feeling knowing there are others with this problem, i dont ususally write on stuff like this but there are so many people that shared their stories so i wanted to share mine. if anyone has found an affective way to deal with this let me know please.
natalie says
Hey Jane,
Thanks for your response i was hoping to get someone comment after mine sooner then later đ as far as my social life there isn’t much of it all i do is hang out with my sister at home watching netflix and trying o find activities to entertain me here. my boyfriend just recently found out about my blushing because it happened while i was out with him getting food i tried to hide it but he noticed then asked me about it.
I really do understand what you mean by lack of social life. i am currently taking a heart medication to slow down my heart rate so that blood doesn’t rush to my face… it does help a little and maybe with the right dosage it might help more i just started taking it recently so i haven’t fully tested it out yet… have you ever talked to just a normal doctor about it?
Note from Admin: Hi Natalie, you left your email in your comment and was removed to prevent abuse – there are vultures out there that will take the information you post and use it to scam you. I do everything I can to prevent this, including personally screening comments to prevent this abuse.
BTW: If you want ask a real doctor for advice without revealing who you are or paying for the information, check out DrMom4You.com. You might not get a response right away, but she does respond when shes not being a doctor and mom đ
Jane says
I’m glad to find out that it has a name, and a possible surgical treatment.
I’ve had it all my life (I’m 40). I’ve avoided doing most “normal” things, or when I tried to do things involving other people I had to give them up pretty quickly.
I read through the comments here and I noticed some of my fellow blushers referring to their boyfriends, girlfriends, fiances or spouses… I thought that was a bit weird. I guess their blushing problem isn’t so bad, if they actually have a social life. Having friends was never an option for me, so I became accustomed to a life of solitude. Being alone is all I know.
natalie says
hi I’m so happy to finally find other people like me i really thought i was the only one out there with this problem. it prob started for me back in my freshmen year of high school. i wouldn’t eat in the lunch room because i hated the bright lighting that would draw more attention to my face and also all the people in there to scared me.
I don’t really have many friends because the friends i did have i would avoid them so much because i would never want to go out and do the fun tings they would want to do because i never wanted to be out in public with them in case i stated blushing for no reason. i always wear my hair down in hopes that when the blushing does occur that it will hide it a little bit.
The other day my bf wanted to introduce me to one of his friends while we were out grocery shopping and i was ok for a second then i started thinking about how he was looking at me and that i would start blushing soon and of course that made things worse so i did. i pretended i was getting a phone call and walked away. i was so mad at myself for it. why cant i just be normal and talk to people and go out with people and have fun…i feel like I’m missing out on so much and I’m wasting my life.. this blushing habit holds me back so much…
I haven’t worn my hair up or back in prob 10 years because i don’t feel comfortable if it isn’t in my face. i wish i could do something about it if anyone has found anything that helps that wouldn’t cost a lot of money please leave a response for me.
Thank you to everyone who has commented so far and made me feel like I’m not alone.
Katie says
I can completely relate to everyone’s stories and I agree with everybody that it is indeed comforting to see that we’re not alone. However, I think everyone can still agree that even though we’re not the only ones with this problem, it doesn’t make it any easier, or go away for that matter!
Similar to pretty much everyone else, my problem started around the 7th grade. It was pretty bad in middle school so I started to wear make-up to cover it up which helped a good bit. The boys were pretty cruel and would still tease me but I got by. Then I transferred to a private school for high school and I was shy at first because of my red face but I got over it for the most part in high school and had a good high school experience. I barely worried about it.
Then when i got to college, the problem started recurring and now I think it’s the worst it’s ever been. Freshman year of college it kept me from going out too much and I only made a select few friends. I joined things but it really prevented me from truly enjoying college. Sophomore year has been even more rough now because I broke up with my boyfriend so I don’t have that comfort anymore and I worry so much about my face. It’s literally on my mind at probably every moment of every day. I try to forget about it but it seems to be nearly impossible. I can’t not think about it. I’ve been prescribed Paxil because it’s supposed to cut down on the obsessive compulsive thoughts I’ve been having and it works a little bit but I still feel like I’m red ALL the time. đ People tell me to just not worry about it and if I could do that, I would. It feels like I can’t stop worrying about it at this point. It’s pretty much taken over my life and drained me of all my energy and worsened my acne because of all the stress. I go tanning which helps a little bit but I have red hair and am supposed to be naturally pale so I don’t think I’m really fooling anybody. It’s gotten to the point though where now between the tanning and the make-up, I’m still worrying pretty constantly so I’m at a loss of what to do. I’m fairly religious and I can’t help but wonder sometimes why God would permit such worry to run my life. I think I do a fairly good job of living out God’s ways so I often wonder why I still have this problem. I’ve been trying something new; to pray every time I worry so gradually I’m replacing my fear and worry with prayer. It’s going alright but I still worry up a storm. I used to be so good at not caring what people thought but now it’s always on my mind. The fact that my face turns red makes me worry more what people think because it looks like I’m worrying about what they think. I know I worry more than I should but it’s just hard not to anymore.
If anyone wants to talk about things that have worked or just to talk my e-mail address is k8steroonis@yahoo.com
If this problem doesn’t get under control I may start to consider surgery because it’s really become a constant thought and is just about unbearable anymore.
Hazel says
Wow. I had no idea there are blushing people just like me.
I’m 27 old and this blushing issue started from when I was 20. I am afraid of people who might see me and think me as a crazy person because I turn red for nothing. I do not turn red all the time but randomly, especially when I talk to strangers. My heart beats faster & I also sweat little bit. I hate feeling nervous whenever I go out. When I get people’s attention, I get nervous and eventually turn red. This makes me so annoying and sad. I didn’t meet my friends to avoid turning red in front of them. (because some of them already noticed that I turn red easily and tease me about that.)
Because of erythrophobia, I even dropped the college feeling horrible. đ
But I would like to start to cure this and meet lots of people to enjoy my life just like everyone else.
If you need someone to talk or want to give me some advice, please write. Sharing stories is always welcome as well!
Let’s overcome this blushing problem together!
Jane says
Hi guys, I had this problem at high school and uni, I’m 21 now . I think i’ve overcome. well, It’s really terrible feeling, your cheeks are burning, your heart is beating..It’s like first love:D:D but It lacks any good feeling. I was really good pupil and student, but this problem declined my self-confidence. I was furious looking at ironical faces of people around me. Then I began reading philosophy, works of many wisemen, I found out than man can do everything he/she wants, if he really wants it. Every desease has it’s medicine. Medicine is your thoughts. You must be a bit stronger. how? you have to concentrate on the other things. The main problem of you is your constant thinking of your blushing. I’m sure all of you have family, hobbies, girlfriend/boyfriend, all of you have your aim of life, may be it’s crucial or personal. You must concentrate on these things, please make a little experiment. Try not to think about your blushing, try to control your thoughts. It really works.
Lauren says
Hey guys,
It’s really comforting to hear that there are quite a few people who have the blushes. I am a pretty confident person and am at uni at the moment. I find that I make myself blush by thinking that I am going to blush. I was quite anxious about this in high school but didn’t really let it stop me. People get to know that’s how you are so they sort of get over it which makes me more comfortable too. It has started up again lately at college, but I am trying to train myself to breath deeply again and not worry too much about it.
Generally I use a couple of tricks to calm my face if I am going to do a speech, interview etc – bring a bottle of cold cold water, best if out of fridge and also wear and bring a stick of nude zinc which you just buy from grocery store. I find this is better than any makeup at masking red blotches. I do generally get the sweats on my face too when I blush, so I keep my hands on my cold bottle and just rest them on my face.
My friends know I go red. Most people are actually pretty interested when you tell them it is just something that you do to yourself when you think about it, telling them as it happens often makes it go away sooner.
My getaway card if it is a situation with someone that I want to get out of because the blushing is that bad is I say I have the worst stomach ache and just go to the toilet and calm down for a bit then come back out if you have too.
Oh I forgot to say a couple of my other tricks:
wear your hair down if long which can be used to party cover face, go to a movie/ restaurant with someone if going on a date as you can focus on the food/ menu more or the movie and the other person won’t see you blush as much. You can always order a spicy meal or get a glass of champagne and just blame the blush on that if you think it will make the other person accept it more. Also at uni I use the technique of if I know I am going to do a presentation or need to ask my lecturer something I turn up in my exercise gear and maybe run there so have I am already sweating and a bit red â just saw you have been running and people don’t even care. Funny how people don’t care at all if there is a âreasonâ.
Anyone else got some more tips or tricks?
Ryan says
Hello,
finally i have found the correct term for “blushing”. I have been suffering from blushing since I left high school. At first it wasn’t too bad but its gradually got to the point where i can not talk to anyone without going red. I currently go to university and it has become a big problem especially in the seminar classes. I find that alcohol helps but I don’t want too use this as a form of medicine. If anyone knows of any other form of treatment could you let me know please.
Kim says
This has been a real help to me reading that my 14 year old daughter is not alone. She is so depressed and has been talking about suicide. I have her in therapy and she is now on celexa and clonipin. Neither is helping. I am actually considering getting her surgery for this problem. Has anyone looked into Sympthectomy? Please e-mail me maybe we can all help each other. Kimrickett1002@comcast.net
Rebecca says
Hello,
At last I found a word for it (blushing). I too suffer from erythrophobia (blushing). It happens over any little thing. I have been this way whole life and I am now 34 years old. I thought I was the only person like this until I started reading and searching for things online. I found out, I am not alone.
I turn red when I have to talk to someone and this happens a lot since I work customer service. Interacting with other people is such a panic for me. All they have to do is say “HI” and I’m completely red in the face. This happens with strangers, people I know, family, friends that I have known forever, my bosses, just anyone. It starts in the face and goes to my chest area. There’s no stopping it. Sometimes I can the feel the redness coming on and other times I do not.
There are some days that are worse than others. I have tried make-up and it works a little bit. My husband ask why I wear the makeup and he don’t understand that I am trying to hide the redness. I don’t like being the “redhead”. Although that is my natural hair color, I wonder if that has anything to do with it? I asked my doctor one time, why the redness happens and she said I was one of those lucky people who tend to show their emotions. Pardon me, but I don’t think I am that lucky by being red all the time. No one else in my family is this way. No one else in my family is red-headed either. They are dark-brown hair or black hair.
For me the tanning does not work, since I am pale and tans do me no good. I cannot tan. I burn up in the sun, and once the sunburn goes away I am back to pale again with a red face. I just wish there was something to help it. I know they make a pill now days for everything, why not this condition? If any one wants to talk or share stories, my email is bectasy2004@yahoo.com and I am on facebook also.
Rosemary says
so I didn’t know that this actually had a name until I saw an episode of greys anatomy like some of you guys, so i began to research and came across this website it is very comforting to know I’m not alone!
I’m 27 and have been suffering from this since I was in high school but it seems as the older I get the worse it gets. In community college i would always e-mail my professor to find out if any oral presentations were required and if so I would immediately drop them. I eventually just stopped going to school.
I work in a hospital as a receptionist so I interact with people all day long and I don’t always turn red but if the patient is attractive I immediately turn red and try and hurry up and check them in so they can just go away.
I sometimes don’t even charge them their co-pay because I don’t want to deal with them longer than necessary because I can just feel them starring at me as my face turns redder and redder.
I cant even go anywhere (mall grocery store etc) because I fear of running into ANYONE I know because that makes me turn bright red I hate it!….it could be anyone relative…mom dad brother/sister. It makes me turn red and sweaty, my boyfriend and I have been together for 7 years and , an he wants us to have a big wedding, which I would love except for the fear of being the center of attention.
I hate when people look or stare at me , if someone looks at me for more than 5 seconds I immediately start turning red ugh! its so annoying I really want to look into seeing a therapist I’m too embarrassed.
=( thanks to everyone for sharing your stories I cant believe how similar all of our stories are! one thing that helps my redness go away is if I’m talking to someone who’s making me turn red I try and switch the subject to something about them so the attention gets off of me and everyone else turns to that person while I cool off =) here’s my e-mail if anyone would like to talk anymore about this rosemaryg83@yahoo.com
J says
Hi
I had this problem since i was 5 – 6 years old.My face used to become red and my body temperature used to become very high.This used to happen whenever, i used to stand in class to read the books or talking to girls or i was centre of attraction in a group of boys.Everybody used to say that I was shy but i knew this wasn’t true.But i didn’t knew what it was.Then i got into job and unfortunately, my job was to face clients, this was kind of nightmare. I was thinking of quitting the job because during presentation to a group of people ,my face used to become red and kind of hot air used to come out of my shirt.But then i decided to get rid of this problem.I analyzed everything in details, when it used to happen and how it starts and how does it affect my body.
I found out the solution, before going out to give a presentation to a group of people or if you are going to meet some stranger or any state which make you blush (I am taking case of “giving a presentation” as my own example) –
a.) Drink lot of cold water before going to such places.
b.) Talk to your best friend or your close associate, about anything, other that the presentation.
c.) Feel happy and do not take tension.
d.) Breath calmly and slowly (Because when you blush your heartbeat increases)
e.) 10 mins before your presentation, think about your girl friend or anybody with whom you share close relationship and think about the best moments you had.
f.) Be confident and be well prepared about the topic that you are going to discuss in presentation.
g.) If possible , try to ignore thoughts that you are in midst of 10 people in a meeting, just think that you are talking to your best friend.
i.) Do not hesitate to do anything, if you think it’s right.The more you hesitate, the more you fear and more you blush.
Just practice this and this will help you in long term.
It had helped me a lot and i don’t blush anymore… đ
Thanks
Ironia says
@Jackie
Oh, that’s such a happy day! There are soooo many of us, blushing!:) I found out about this notion only few days ago, before that I was convinced I am a shy person (what in fact I am NOT). And it feels good to find out it’s not your fault, your weirdness or whatever, it’s JUST a phobia. Oh, it feels good:)
I decided to drop a comment for you Jackie, as you really sound desperate, plus I fit your criteria – am a girl, around your age and I have this difficulty or it’s even better to say ‘difference’ (I definitely wouldn’t say a problem).
I won’t describe what I feel about constant blushing as you know it just as well as I do. I have been blushing the whole my life and until recently (when I discovered this magical word ‘erythrophobia’) had no idea WHY. I mean, people stereotypically label you as being shy/weird and you accept this label because you have no idea what might be other reasons of your “stupid blushing”. But there is an objective reason – phobia.
When you know the reason it’s easier to look for the solution how to live with it! (Let’s be honest with ourselves, no drugs, make up or other external gadgets can help to overcome the phobia, it’s within us, so we need to learn to LIVE with it, not to RUN from it, ’cause you can’t escape from yourself, can you?). I’ll give you one example. There are a lot of dyslexics and before they actually realize they have dyslexia they are labeled as ‘stupid’, ‘lazy’ and whatsoever. But, once they discover it’s ONLY dyslexia, they can learn to live with it, they learn tips and hints to live with it and the most important thing is that they know they are NOT stupid or whatever, they are JUST dyslexics. The same with us, we JUST have a phobia.
So what I do now is I am learning to live with it (already 2 days, long experience:). I do my best to acknowledge (internally to myself) that I have the phobia and I DO blush. And what? Yes, I do blush. Why should it prevent me or you from living to a full potential? Enjoy this life! Why does the skin colour matter? You’re afraid they point at you, think you are weird? Come on! Who are these ‘they’? And why do they matter? I pretty much like the advice of Hanna – paint them black and white and make them smaller:) I’ll try it out tomorrow at work:)
The main point, don’t go for smoking, drinking, depressing or whatsoever. Acknowledge you are just the way you are, accept yourself this way, no need to bother about what other people think. And believe me, they do not think about you too often so don’t overestimate the time they actually think about you and your blushing:)
And guess the article gives a good tip – challenge yourself, go for public speeches, ask people questions in the supermarket, smile to a nice girl that is passing by you. In other words, live a great blushing life!:)
I am pretty sure you’re a handsome guy and when you blush you look sweet:) We usually do not look as bad as we think we do, so no need to worry. So I sincerely wish all blushing people good luck. No need to be depressed, we are so many that very soon too white people will start feeling weird among us thinking ‘why don’t I blush’:)
Jackie says
hi everyone, reading all these comments brings tears to my eyes, because I know how hard, exhausting this problem is. I’ve had this problem since I was 16, I’m 21 now. This issue has pushed me to drop out of high school, try to commit suicide, etc. =/ I don’t know if people out there find it as hard and depressing as me to have this problem.
I was sort of popular in high school, had many friends, then i felt like this one week i started to blush, in almost every situation. I felt like all of a sudden it just started to happen. But, the point when someone pointed it out, made me analyze myself in a way that turned my life UPSIDE-DOWN.
I dropped out of HS, and started to avoid every social situation, i started to ruin all my friendships, due to lack of trust in them and lack of confidence they will accept my “crazy disorder”. eventually i got my ged, and got into college, my condition has gotten better, but it still kills me inside, knowing that i cant live to my full potential, i cant be as happy and full of life as i want to be.
This ertyrowhatever has led to severe depression and severe anxiety. college is almost unbareable, its very hard to wake up every morning knowing that I have to deal with yet another series of “blush attacks” throughout the day, ive talked to my therapist about this, THATS IT, i need someone who is around my age preferably a girl to talk to on here, that i could talk to one on one that has had this problem. If anyone has read my post, and could reach out to me, itll be greatly appreciated.
i need help. i need a friend who knows how badly this disorder could be.. thanx
Christian says
I’ve been having this problem sice i started puberty. now I’m 23.
It’s very annoying and, the problem is that I detach myself from people and reality. You get avoid ant of social situations, I even feel detached from my emotions, and feel than I can’t apriciate things in life.
The thing is that Im not really that shy, but the fear of getting red, and getting all that attention towards u is unbearble.
Through the years vie forced myself into situations were I get red, and it’s not pleasant. it helps keeping the “disease” from getting worse at least.
the two cures that have worked for me is makeup, and marihuana.
since I’m a guy I don’t really like walking around with a lot of makeup, but if u find a foundation which fits your skin colour it works well and u can generally not tell if u are wearing makeup. (I like the mineral powder from bare minerals. it actually covers all the redness almost. remember to cover your ears aswell. haha.) Just ask in a cosmetic store if they can help u find a foundation that fits u.
the effects from wearing foundation was almost instant. I was less stressed and didn’t have to worry about people looking at my face, because i knew that it wasn’t red. And when u know u aren’t red, the problem is gone. So i stopped wearing the makeup, to see what happened, and for a while it was ok, but than it came back. the stress and redness.
now its summer, and I have noticed that getting tanned or in the sun or solarium, helps bit. the redness goes better with tanned skin than pale skin. and i hear a lot that it looks like I’m glowing, that i looks “alive”, and that i generally look more tanned than i am. haha. But this is without makeup, since I haven’t used it in a while.
Another tip is weed. when i smoke weed, Everything is good, and relaxed. i don’t smoke on a regular basis, and I don’t really like to be high when I’m in a social situation. But if u come home after a long stressful day, take a joint and relax. because the next day after u smoke is great. U get a really nice sleep, and for me it works like anti anxiety drug. I don’t get red. and I don’t get stressed.
good luck.
Candice says
Recently I watched a Grey’s Anatomy (kind of cheesy I know) and there was a case about a girl who had a blushing problem that she was getting surgery for, so I decided to google âextreme blushing’ and this was one of the websites I found.
I am 20 years old and I have had this blushing problem as long as I can remember, but in the past few years it seems to have gotten much worse. I’ve always been really shy and that also seems to have gotten worse as I’ve gotten older, ironically. It is also not just my cheeks that turn red, it is my entire face. In junior high and high school I would turn red occasionally when I would get embarrassed or be talking in the spotlight of a large group of people, but I didn’t mind it as much as I do today.
My friends used to call me Tomato. I was known to turn red and people thought it was funny so I just shrugged it off and didn’t let it bother me like it does today. Recently though being in college it has become a major issue.
I hate the thought of knowing I might be called on in class or that I’ll have to do a group activity, because I turn red every time. I tend to avoid eye contact, looking down or anywhere but the person’s face to try to avoid the blushing. My mind also kind of goes blank when I turn red, so then I become clumsy with my words and in general and feel like a complete idiot.
This semester I even took some of my classes online to avoid these situations. Last semester I got out of a presentation by saying I was sick- I don’t know how it worked, but it did. I know I can’t do this though with every presentation that comes along. My sister blushes alot too, but I don’t think she has it as bad as me. A lot of times I turn red when I talk to people I don’t know and even people I do know. Even around my family I turn red. I turn red at stores when I have to talk to the people at the registers. I turn red at work and I especially turn red around cute guys.
I don’t know why but even though I’ve dealt with this as long as I can remember it has become much worse and has caused me to become socially crippled. I feel like I’ll never be able to do anything in life that I want to. It is just nice to read about what other people have to say that struggle with the same thing. I think I am going to definitely ask my doctor about it next time I go in.
L. P. says
Hello Fellow Blushers!! :] I am a 22 year old guy who has developed this fear over the past year and a half, it really is just in the mind but after it kept happening almost all day every day it became a physical problem; I now fall victim to panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and suuuuper high heart rate almost to the point of exhaustion!
It all started when I started working at Trader Joe’s, I know u all “love that store and all the employees seem so happy and motivated” quite the contrary- TJ’s creates too personal of a customer experience, we as “team members” are placed way under the customer level making us too accessible and vulnerable. I’ve worked at Home Depot and Whole Foods and neither gave me anxiety and paranoia like TJ’s đ
Not to sound conceded or arrogant (obviously, or I wouldn’t have this problem) but I am a stereotypically attractive male, making this problem even harder because when I stop and look around all eyes are LITERALLY on me, driving my stress through the roof and making my face intensely red.
Part of the job requirement is to be on ‘register’ multiple times a day… there are times where I’d rather be dead than have to do that, and have called out sick many times due to high tension and that debilitating fear. We are essentially caged in while countless people flow through our lines all day, and like I said about being “attractive” when I’m on the ‘front end’ every single person is staring at me, I wish it was just in my head and paranoia and people were not actually watching every move I made, then I may be able to convince myself “its only a dream- nothing is real”.. but it’s my reality.
In fact just yesterday I was deeply uncomfortable at work because it was a really busy Saturday and it was hot and stuffy in the store, and because I was on ‘register’ I couldn’t break away, the worst thing though was when a new employee got to work and said “Hi” to me, then walked over to another employee and in a concerned, confused tone asked “Why Is He SO Red…??”. Final straw, now here I am looking for remedies, and understanding.
Some days are worse than others, if it’s really busy and there are a lot of people I just can’t take it, but if its late and relaxed I’m usually fine, I’ve tried distractions, affirmations and breathing/ reassurance exercises but after 2 days of using something to distract u from chronic terror it completely stops working and u end up hating and resenting what ever it was that brought u calmness and happiness.
The phobia and panic started at work, and up until about 3 months ago stayed there, but now the thoughts and fears cross over to daily life, going out in public, spending too much time in public, making ANY kind of eye contact now sets it off immediately.
THIS WILL NOT DO, and thanks to all of ur guys’ stories and advice I know it can be beat, and controlled, and I can overcome the ‘hyper self awareness’ and crazy social fear that has recently developed. Sounds like its going to be a confusing, ‘hit or miss’ experience but nothing could be worse than this horrible existence. We all deserve to be relaxed and happy and really thrive in life! If any one has other advise, or knows how emotionally exhausting/ frustrating it is to be forced into this situation for hours a day feel free to comment back!
We CAN beat this, Acceptance and Understanding is Key!
Peace & Happiness!!! -L.P.
Hanna says
hi there, I’m only young but feel facial blushing has affected me also, I’m not sure when exactly it started…i know it was in school. i don’t feel the need to talk about my problems and situations so much but i found helpful and easy ways to slowly depress the problem. i find if each day i push myself a little more..don’t think of the situation as a big problem that will make you panic and go red, just see it as a simple task that your doing look at the picture in your…make it smaller and black and white and push it away.
For example, your in a shop its big and there’s about 20 people in there but its quiet…you want to ask someone about a product but your worried it might draw attention to you, and your feel uncomfortable or embarrassed and go red…now put yourself in that situation again, look at the people around you paint them black and white and make them smaller. they have their own problems there not thinking about you there not looking at you, don’t worry about them they don’t know you. now relax and understand that the situation is no more than a little problem in the back of your mind, don’t let it get bigger than your head don’t let it irritate you anymore. its normal to worry and this problem is nothing more than say teenagers getting spots.
i hope this can put the problem in a different view for you.
x
Kim says
I too am a a facial blusher. It has debilitated my life for as long as I remember the first time someone pointed out that “Your face is really red” I was in Grade 3. I hate social situations and will absolutely not go out in public without a full face of make-up to cover my cheeks in case of a “flare-up”.
Fortunately in college I met a friend who helped me experiment with make-up and I can completely hide the redness. I met my now husband around the same time and he always said that he thought my red cheeks were cute. Although my husband is very supportive, my family always seemed “embarrassed” by me always blushing in front of people they were associated with. I would hide when company came and am still a very shy.
The good news is for a girl you can hide the redness on your cheeks by applying green make-up primer. Mine is a cheap “Mint” primer. Then load your liquid foundation over that and then powder/bronzer/ blush…no one needs to know what you are hiding. Now my biggest problem is trying to be social since I avoided it for so long. All the best everyone!
Paul says
Hi all,
I have had this problem since I was about 16 and I am now 32. I have been to countless different medical professions to get help ( which is a big step ) and I have found that the best thing that helped me is doing relaxation exercises and meditation. I have taken anti depressants and anxiety pills and nothing worked until now I take cardinol (which is a beta blocker) morning and night and it has been amazing.
I still get those feelings every now and then but not as frequent. Another thing is to tell yourself when it’s happening it’s no big deal or who cares blah blah blah and after enough repetition you can start believing it. One thing I have learned over time is that it is not a good idea to hide all the time and I now feel better pushing myself into different situations and this soon becomes more normal and easier to handle. Maybe we all need to be sent to live on a remote island somewhere so we can all be red together ha ha, good luck guys
Leisa says
Hi, I can totally relate to the blushing phobia……..One tip, I always take a bottle of iced water with me when i go out……..if confronted by someone or feeling the red come on, i place the bottle of water on my the side of my stomach ( the tender area) whilst i am talking to the person and the instant coolness calms me down and you can drink it too when burning up……….it is a bit annoying carrying around a small drinking bottle but it is so worth the effort when you get caught out…….it is my safety blanket ………
Luuk says
when people say to me that I blush it becomse worse (sorry for bad english)
Cathy says
I have enjoyed reading all these notes. I am 41 and have been dealing with this since, probably, 5th grade. At that time, my mother thought I had something called “slap face” or “Fifth’s disease” (something like that). I guess I could’ve had it, but it kept coming back. After that, they didn’t know what it was, so it was just ignored. And it got worse over the years.
I especially empathize with the teenagers. In high school, I had severe anxiety over class presentations. So much so that I hyperventilated. Once my parents made me call the teacher at home to explain. (Luckily the teacher was nice about it. Thanks, Ms. Shields)
I really wish our “condition” would be more accepted. I mean, everybody blushes…just because we blush more, it doesn’t mean we’re weird “er” than anyone else. But, yes, I still feel weird. And I take it personally, internalizing it. It’s hard not to do.
I am glad to read about everyone’s dilemmas because I have been there … done every one.
I am currently interested in someone, but am afraid of the blushing, which has “plagued” me since, well, forever. I thought I had a handle on the blushing for a while, but that was just because I hadn’t tried dating in a long time. (I am a single mother and had been preoccupied with that for years.) So, I knew it would probably happen with this new guy, and, of course, it did. Oh well. It’s always something. I hope I can deal with it, and that it doesn’t ruin things.
I don’t think we–this group of writers– are going to get away with it not happening to us. It’s just something about us we all have to deal with….until a miracle cure comes to fore.
But, so what. Maybe it’s the others that are weird, and we are the better ones. We are unique and a “club.” I am just glad there are folks out there that can relate. I wish that all of you were on my email list, so that we could communicate every day about this and offer support. If you wish to email me, please do at clp7a “at” comcast “dot” net.
I do offer my sincerest gratitude for your sharing your stories.
Lisa says
All I can say is I cant believe there are other people like me in the world. I really thought I was the only one. I’m 32 now and the constant blushing has been getting worse over the last few years. I’ve tried CBT but it didn’t have much effect. I blush constantly even when I’m on my own, even in front of my own family and it has made me dread any occasion when I know I might have to speak to someone because it always happens. Even just buying something in the supermarket can set me off. Anyway I just wanted to say that I know what you are all going through and there is hope for us all!
lidia says
I recognize so much what Shane is saying. I blush constantly without reason and I am horrified my face can get red. It came to this that I cannot sit on the couch in the room downstairs (with a windows to the street) because I my face gets red if I think that the people passing outside will notice my red face and judge it. It is crazy!
I do breath exercises to relax and I blush because I think myself strange, I avoid and am terrible horrified before going out and meeting people. I am extremely self-conscious and everywhere I am I am thinking of how I look, is my face already getting red, and does somebody noticed it. These thoughts make me blush even more. I hate family meetings, because I will awkwardly blush. I blush when I am taking with my sister. I start to blush when I am sitting in a car being afraid what people will think about me when I step out.
I blush in the supermarket, but restaurants are very the worst, the same people sitting in the circle, college class, applying for a job. I am horrified by my face getting red. I am constantly busy with the thought of what other people think of me. This thought make my face red and fighting with it even more red. My face gets red in the trein and in public places but even EVEN when I am alone: because than I think what if now somebody has knocked on the door and I have to open it?
And my face is red? So my face, even if alone, blush.
This is my story.
Sam says
I am so glad I am not alone!!! It is somewhat of a relief to know there are others out there who understand this! I like everyone else here wish there was some kind of a magical cure that would just make this go away. I have been suffering from this awful thing for about 12 years now. I often feel like I am deffective or I did something wrong in my life that I deserve this. I have also tried therapy and anti-depressants and the only thing they have done for me is give me bad side-effects and a hard time weening myself off of them. I have searched hours upon hours on the internet looking for a solution to this and I have found nothing promising. I believe that a large part of my problem is my low self-esteem and worrying that other people are constantly judging me. I am working on the self esteem issues. I think that this started as a child and has gotten worse into adulthood-I am 29. I can remember blushing as a child and kids pointing and laughing at me…and always thinking there was something wrong with me. My doctors also had the same advice for me, no big deal, you’ll grow out of it. My mother also has the same problem though I don’t think it was ever as bad as mine fro m what I could see. But she seems to have hers under control as an adult now, and we never talk about it. It’s too embarrasing. But sometimes I get angry at her for passing it to me hereditarily! How awful is that?! I find that it is easier also in cold weather to avoid a blush and I look forward to the winter when I can cover myself up with a turtleneck! I also blush VERY easily in the following situation:
-running into someone I know in a publice place, especially the mall or supermarket
-meetings at work
-if someone catches me of guard at work with a personal or work related question
-if I am on the phone and I get upset or excited about something
-at dinner in restaurants or even with my family and friends at dinner
-interviews
-in a car if it is warm and the windows are up
-being in large crowds of people
-the supermarket when the lights are bright
-at gatherings with my fiance’s family. These are especially bad and I find myself having a drink or two before I even get there
I could go on and on. My biggest concern is my upcoming wedding next June 2011. I am already worried about blushing coming down the aisle and ruining that once in a lifetime moment and everyone staring at me whispering to each other about how red I am! My goal the next 10 months is to try to overcome this as best I can and try to have the dream wedding that I want and deserve without being overcome by blushing.
If anyone has anything they can share that has worked for them please let us know! And good luck to you all in your battle to overcome this! I wish you all a lot of luck and happiness. Don’t let this bring you down(as easy as that sounds)! We all deserve to live have a happy and fufilling life!
Marg says
I just want to give everyone the heads up… I know most of you have mentioned wanting to take anti-depressants for a “cure.” If you haven’t started on the drugs, I wouldn’t go there just yet. Try finding a therapist in your area who does cognitive behavioral therapy. Trust me, this will be a better cure in the long run. I’ve gone the anti-depressants route and all I’ve ended up with is trouble with insurance companies. Did you know that if you’ve taken anti-d’s and you apply for individual health insurance, the ins company can charge you 25-50% more on your premium just because you used to take them? It might not matter to you now (especially for those of you who are still in high school) but that’s when I started taking the anti-d’s and now I struggle with finding health insurance for something that I took almost 10 years ago. FYI.
Also, I was prescribed a slew of anti-depressants (not all at the same time). None of them were successful with what all of us here are dealing with. I know you want a quick cure. But that’s just not what they do. Same with anti-anxiety pills. Take my advice…try to find a therapist (not a psychiatrist who’s just gonna shove pills down your throat). See what your options are. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) really helped me out. And if it’s too expensive, a lot of therapists work on a sliding scale.
Feel free to ask me any questions. I’ve been dealing with this for about 14 yrs. now.
Good luck-
M
demi says
I’m soo shocked about this didn’t even know something like existed!! always felt like a bit of a weirdo. I went to the doctors about this when I was 13 (I’m 17 now) and all she said to me was to try some good make up! they are crap.
I blush in most social situations and more around teenagers and lads :O which makes it hard to get a bf. And sometimes if I’m having a conversation half way through I will just go really really red, it’s mortifying.
Alot of use have said like if you haven’t seen someone for ages you’ll blush, I’m the same. And someone said that in the cold it’s easier to control, me too lol.
I recently quit college right at the end of my course because I had to do a discussion and was afraid I would go red. How silly does that sound! Think I’m going mad, it’s definitely gone too far for such a little thing :/ still sort of relieved I’m not crazy and not alone đ
admin says
Hi John,
I removed your email and if you like I’ll stick it back into your comment, but there are a ton of doctors and scammers out there that will write you privately after reading your post pretending to have the same problem but found the perfect cure. These people usually try to sell you on an expensive product or some doctor eager to help.
You would be amazed at how often this happens!
Jim
John G. says
I’ve been living with this for about ten years now. I’m a senior in college and I like to go out and have fun with my friends like every other person. But we’ll go to a bar or something and even before i start drinking i start turning red, just knowing that by drinking this alcohol, I’ll turn red.
Or I’ll be going in to work and think oh I’m probably gonna turn red at work today, and what do you know I start turning red before I even get there, and when I get there I think damn I’m really red from thinking I’m gonna turn red and if i get put on the spot for ANYTHING or if an attractive girl comes in, or if i semi know the person, or if i don’t know the person at all, i could list the or’s forever.
I’ll be at the register and I can just feel my cheeks getting hotter and hotter and I literally will do anything to get out of the situation. It feels like everybody’s just staring at my damn cheeks. I’m 100% certain that my cheeks have had an affect on my personality, life, everything. Like others have stated, it’ll just happen randomly too. and once that burning feeling starts there’s no stopping it, I’ll look in the mirror and sure enough, bright rosy cheeks.
Honestly I’m fed up trying to do this cold turkey; the ten years I’ve suffered with this has been ample time to let it take its course. I’m going to get on some sort of anti-depressant and as soon as i can afford it hopefully get some laser treatment. I’m done letting this control my life. If ANYONE knows of any sort of options to get rid of this PLEASE let me know. Thanks for listening it feels good to talk about it surprisingly.
If anyone has any tips or would like to talk about this please let me know. I’d like to know someone else dealing with this so at least I’d have someone to blush with haha đ
amy says
i cant believe there are alot of people that get this aswell , i go bright red so randomly infront of close friends and family , and even having conversations makes my face turn red even if im not embaressed ?????? is there a cure
it helps to know that there are people out there with this aswell !
nic says
I think no one has explained WHY that happens… i mean, if it comes by fear, the body tends to drain blood from the stomach area or so I’ve heard, is a reaction from fear or the get stricken (something like a primitive defense mechanism to prevent loss of blood when attacked). i might be wrong but that fear is a blast from the past… something left in our DNA and some of us humans react or are more afraid..
now…. in most situations… i don’t feel fear, that just might be subconscious like someone said.. i wouldn’t know if my face is red if ppl in the same room haven’t told me.
i wish i didn’t get it… is like giving away stuff… is a lill depressing but i get by
Nora says
you know Hanna, i dont know of a cure for this. i know that it happens to me daily and all i want to do is run away if it is in front of a group of people or boy i like or dont like! i think it’s all in our head and when we feel it coming on when the teacher calls on you, dont get negative. think positive and think “why am i worrying about it?” if you think about it that way, it’ll usually get better but that has been my problem. i try to think positively about it. its just so embarassing!
Hanna says
omg! i have this and I’m only 16…i get it a lot at school. when a boy speaks to me, even if he is just a friend, or when a teacher calls on me in class, I feel like the entire world i focused on me. i don’t get it! i feel my face hot, but i never know if it is…can someone please tell me if there is a way to cure that???
oLa says
i have this problem when i was younger but as i aged, it was just gone naturally… Facing and talking to a lot of people helps…
Nora says
My fellow blushers: SO GLAD I FOUND YOU….It’s worst when you know you’re blushing but no one around you will tell you because they’ll feel uncomfortable in the first place probably thinking they did something to cause it. I can’t even have a normal conversation with my professor without blushing! (even if all we are talking about is a paper and he makes a joke) Running into someone I know, and have you noticed it’s easier when you’re out in the cold….you just are able to control it so much better and also when it’s dark too đ
if anyone has a technique of decreasing thier incidences, PLEASE share with us…i’d love your input…thanks and talk to you soon
Marg says
Hello my blushing buddies:
Since last I wrote many things have changed. My face still gets red, so don’t get your hopes up yet… BUT, the feeling of wanting to be a total recluse in order to avoid social situations has abated.
At the beginning of the year I began to feel myself gravitate towards agoraphobia. I didn’t want to be around anyone or do anything because I was so afraid of being stuck in a situation where my face would get red, and then if it turned red all I would do was think about how much I hated it being red, thus perpetuating the cycle of redness. I finally broke down and found a psychologist who specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Right now I am in my 9th week of therapy and I am being exposed to all sorts of interesting modes of treatment.
Because my anxiety stems from and is directly linked to whether or not my face is red, part of the treatment is to purposely make my face red and do different behavioral tests. For example, one of my fears was of being in a room with bright lights and having to hold a conversation with someone b/c at any moment I knew my face would turn red. So for therapy, the Dr. had someone come in and I had to have a conversation with this stranger under the glare of bright lights. During this time I rated my anxiety level and how much I thought I was blushing and so did the person who I was having the conversation with. Interestingly enough, the majority of the time the person commented that she didn’t think that I was blushing.
I chose this example of my therapy b/c it’s important to recognize that the heat sensation that we feel does not always mean we are blushing. But, if you are like me and have had people in your life who comment (sometimes rather rudely) about your face being red, it’s hard to break the association between the heat sensation and the actual blushing. Make any sense? So that means, there are some times when we feel a little warm in the cheeks, but it may not be recognizable to others. Unfortunately, that warmth often increases as we begin to worry about the horrible feeling of the full-on redness, which in turn makes the redness inevitable.
So first, stop doing safety checks. An example of a safety check would be checking in the mirror to see if you’re blushing. Once I stopped checking all the time I realized that if no one said anything to me, there was no way that I could actually KNOW that I was blushing. If I didn’t have actual concrete evidence of my face blushing (and the heat feeling is not evidence) then who was I to say if I was blushing or not? By NOT looking in the mirror, I stopped mentally beating myself up. I stopped disappointing myself when I saw two fire red cheeks, and a ruddy nose and chin. If I didn’t see it I couldn’t 100% say that I was blushing.
Second, stop avoiding situations. By avoiding you are teaching your brain that those situations are “bad” and that there is reason for panic. I know this one is hard. It is still really hard for me, but getting better. I find the more I suck it up and do whatever it is I am avoiding, the more I realize that I can make it through the situation without completely falling apart. For me the anticipation of the event creates more anxiety then the actual event that I’m anxious about.
Third, if someone comments on your red face, just act as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. At first it will be really hard. But the more often you say “Oh, my face is red? I didn’t notice” the sooner you’ll believe it yourself. I know this one can be particularly hard for high school age kids. Your peers are so insensitive at that age and making fun of others is the ultimate defense mechanism. But at least as you get older you’ll run into people who are more understanding and less likely to make fun of you. Some are, but not all;)
That’s all the advice I have so far. I’ll keep posting about my experiences of my therapy if it’s helpful to others. And if you feel you need therapy I would definitely recommend CBT (feel free to ask questions). I think we have all been trained to think so negatively about ourselves when our faces turn red. But the more we can normalize it, the better it will become! Like so many of you have said, it’s nice to come to this website and share stories and read about other experiences. When you get down about your facial flushing, just remember there are so many people in the world that feel the exact same way. I know it makes me feel a little bit better.
Cheers,
M
Andrew says
So I stumbled upon this site while doing some homework for human anatomy- Ever since I can remember, I have always blushed- at everything, and just like all of you, someone would mention it, and it would get worse. Now I’m 25, and I still blush occasionally. But I have it under control. The best thing that helped me- was in 7th grade my older sister convinced me to take drama! It forced me to get up and not only talk in front of people, but actually perform. It turns out it was something that I enjoyed. And all through High school I performed. It taught me not to be so self conscious! and to be goal oriented. I realized there was more important things to worry about than my face. And Surprisingly- once I stopped thinking about it,it wouldn’t happen so much. This is something that you will have to live with your whole life- So don’t waste it by worrying. You have the ability in you to change how you think, and how you react. With a positive attitude, and some hard work- you’ll have this phobia licked in no time. Believe me, I was there once. And you know what they say- it takes an addict to cure one.
Esmeralda says
I’m in 8th grade and i have to be dealing with the blushing problem.I hate speaking in front of people because i know I’m gonna blush and at the end someone’s gonna tell me about it.I just wish i didn’t have to blush and that would make my life a little easier.When someone tells me I’m blushing it just makes it worse =(! People always make fun of me and tell me i look like a tomato! I hate my life when that happens.And its sooooooo embarrassing!!!!!!!!
krouge96 says
I never knew this existedâŠâŠI’ve always complained to my doctors about getting hives on my chest and neck when I’m in social situations, drink alcohol or in the sun. They said there was nothing that could treat it and didn’t even tell me about this phobia.
I’m a red head so I figured that was part of having fair skin. I do have bad anxiety about large social gatherings with peopleâŠâŠeven people I’ve known for years. I’ve had bad anxiety my whole life.
I have to put makeup all over my neck and chest when I go to social gatherings.
I’m on anti depressants so you think that would helpâŠ..but the older I get the worse it gets.
Has anyone tried Hypnotherapy for this?
P.S. It’s so nice to know I’m not alone!!
Lorenzo says
I have experienced this for many years. Mine is so severe that the flushing occurs even when I am alone. Sometimes I am aware of it and other times I am not.
I am a teacher and speak in the public ALL the time. This has never helped alleviate the flushing. I just tell people it is because of a medication and carry on with my problem. Worrying will make it worse, so I just try and relax and get on with
my life.
Isil says
Hi everyone,
I hope everyone gets to read this because my condition has gotten better..
I’m so glad (not to say I’m happy you all have it), but as many of you have said, I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I was a pretty shy kid as I was growing up, until middle school, then I started being more outgoing. Then after my first year of high school, it started.. and to make along story short, I moved after my second year of high school, and it started the first day of class. I remember like a few times before I moved that I had blushed, but I’m pretty sure those were just regular blushing (being embarrassed or something) but then again, they were things that shouldn’t even be embarrassed about, so sometimes I think maybe that was the early sign of this condition.
I’m so glad I’ve finally found an actually name for this too now..
SO I went through this throughout high school, then decided to come back to my hometown for college. and thought maybe being in a familiar place and/or with old friends would help. it both did and didn’t.. in some situations it got worse (and I’m also pretty amazed about how similar all our “triggers” are). and because of this my first year of college was pretty much isolated, which is such a shame, because it is really a wonderful experience.
So I randomly decided I would go see a psychologist, and did..but she wasn’t much help so I think it also depends on the care you get. Some just don’t understand, which some of the doctors mentioned here on this forum, was just ridiculous! what kind of doctors and medical professionals do we have……….
Anyways..
So, I got really fed up at one point (even though I already was, I felt I had enough “freedom” and didn’t need to rely on parents for these medical things, and felt I just really needed to do something. because like i said i became a lot more outgoing then suddenly this happened, and it made me waste so much of my time and worry about this, unfortunately some of you many more years than me).
SO, moving on …. i started doing more serious research, and decided to just go to a doctor, well nurse practitioner anyway.and explain symptoms, and even other things that was going on in my health(both psychologically and physically), just in case if they were associated with one another). She did the regular check-up, and checked my thyroid, my blood count..and i Believe one other thing, but i can’t remember at the moment, and said there was nothing bad with the tests, and recommended I see a counselor..or psychologist..or therapist..etc.
I got an appointment with a counselor on campus, which was nice because it was both effective and cheap..(haha)
I went to go see her, and thought she wouldn’t understand when she started saying things like “You know, in some situations it shouldn’t seem so bad, because it would think that you might be attracted to the other person when you are blushing” (which i was like whoa, I don’t want to be blushing weather i am or am not attracted to this person. and how about the people that are like yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaars older or younger than me, or even of the same gender (in my situation because I’m not homosexual). i wouldn’t want them to think that i am attracted to them, that’s insane! so..i started worrying about that).
She also related other symptoms plus blushing, to Anxiety,(though she couldn’t quite point out which one, because my situation is so random and can be associated with any of the Anxiety types i guess). which makes sense.
But then she started asking me about trauma in my life, and I told her one of the things i went through, and it is amazing how much opening up and some one just listening really helped.
then during our last session before classes got out she asked if i was going anywhere, and at the time we were going to where i had moved to before, to see family and friends during the summer. and she said “just remember, put on your crazy,wild, side, and have fun!”
and that’s what i did during the summer. and before it i started getting so anxious about how i might not be able to, and if i didn’t that summer, how this would once again happen the following year in college again).
that summer, i rarely remember being red or splotchy, all of the above? and it was great. and I LEARNED that even when it did happen, by just trying your best to IGNORE it (even though i know is really hard), eventually the temperature you feel and the redness others see starts to fade as you try your best to carry on the conversation, or whatever it is. it’s basically just trying to run through a war ground with your sword out and your mind not caring (even though that sounds kind of violent), it’s basically just pushing through whatever you have to.
So after the summer, i started my second year, and it was amazing how much it had gotten better, (although not totally gone), it had improved and gone towards more “normal” situations of blushing.
It’s not totally gone, it sometimes comes back and the anxiety just hits and I’m afraid of turning red, but that’s the thing, you have to focus your attention on something else. and keep going. Sometimes I can’t even do this myself when I get hit with the worry of “oh my gosh I’m going to go meet this person” or “this person just said something that’s about me, or asked me a question, what’s my face and body going to do?” but I’m, so happy that’s the redness has decreased in certain topics/places/people.
so what i would recommend aside from seeing someone (doctor,psychologist)?
-I’m not sure if being spiritual has anything to do with this, but If you do believe in a higher power, then I would definitely ask for help..maybe worshiping or doing certain things in your belief, might help you be more accepting in yourself.
-do muscle relaxation techniques associated with Anxiety; what I found helpful was this book called “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” fourth edition, by Edmund J. Bourne,Ph.D. (definitely go check it out a bookstores or wherever)
-try to keep your focus on something else during conversations, maybe keep a rubber band around your wrist, and snap it when it starts to happen( a little weird but I’ve read it works, I’ve tried with a hair band,eh, it’s 50-50..i just don’t remember to do it sometimes, but it may work for some of you)
-try to be someone else, or someone you would like to be, or were before this awkward blushing started. especially in places that you don’t know people (cashiers, info. desks, bus stops, or even just on the telephone when getting technical help or customer service! etc..).
-herbal stuff. i had so idea that coffee could help before this forum, because coffee tends to make your nerves all jittery so i was always that it would make it worse in social situations, but who knows! for me herbal tea (especially things with berries worked pretty good). but I’m willing to give that coffee a try (it’s here somewhere in this forum up there..)
-what does not help for me is making eye contact, which i really wish i could do more often, because i wouldn’t want people to think i am not being sincere, or lying , or not listening. but making less eye contact, and even better looking a different direction helps me…like if someone is standing by me and i am sitting, i face the same way they are facing and once in a while look at them to acknowledge them that i am listening)..
-if you’re up for it go take a DANCE CLASS! you already get read and a little sweaty, and plus you don’t talk as much, you just move, it’s great.
I’m trying to remember things, but this is all i got for now, hopefully this somewhat helps. i find that just trying your best to ignore it helps so much. i wish i knew the term for that type of therapy..
I also remember reading somewhere in here about hypnosis (which would be so awesome if there was something like that out there that would help with this thing), like how this person said they turned red just by listening to the tapes, if you’re reading this, did you continue listening after realizing your red, or just quit? if you just quit go on and see what happens? especially since your by yourself, just accept what is going on with your body that moment and just see what happens.
So like I said, just by these simple? maybe not so simple things I’ve been so much better, (it’s not completely gone, but I’m hoping it will be!) it might be a little lighter on your shoulders…and on your face (haha).
i really wish i could remember anything else right now..but can’t..
if you can..go take a vacation and be show your “crazy, wild, side” =) ..and forget about your worries. and that biggest worry….might be the blushing.
let’s at least all be grateful we don’t have anything worse..
please let me know if this has helped you or if you have any questions. and even better if you have any other solutions to be completely “cured”!!
realdumblilblub@yahoo.com
and..don’t mind the e-mail name..it’s my crazy side =P
Thank you for reading, and good luck to you all!!
Thomas says
hey Paulina same my goes so red u wouldn’t believe it and i look every day for cures if i find one or find one that helps ill let u know đ
Paulina says
My face turns as red as a tomato whenever the teacher call out my name.I have it bad , is there any other possible cure??
Siobhan says
Wot im not totally alone…..im 29 and have had excessive blushing since i can remember…in fact i remember i was in national school about 11 when it first happened and the teacher said the you always know when someone does something wrong because they go red..and i still remember thinking oh my god thats so true and thats where it began!!..
Ive kind of learned to control it to an extent but still do the following
-Blush when i meet someone in a shop or wherever, although i can usually control it if im out in the cold(anyone else familure with this!???)
– if someone asks me a question in work, could be so small like ‘how was your weekend?’
– i hate and avoide sitting down for dinner with people, or anywhere ..public transport etc..
-i have been know to have an alcholic drink to prevent the blushing!-how bad is that!??
-in meetings
-with my own family
i try and avoide suitation where ill get embarressed as much as i can..
Im very confident person, i think people associate blushing with shy people which isnt true at all…..does anyone else sit in their living room with just a lamp on as the main light is too bright and theres less chane of your red face being obvious……….or go for dinner in a restraunt/pub where you know the light is dark!..
god i just realised how bad this is!!……….it really ruins my life and i would pay thousands to fix this…….i feel like im holding back and i dont say what i really feel in a conversation for fear of getting embarressed……been for hypno once but never bothered going back….may try again soon…
xx
Sam says
I am so happy that I found this site, and that there are actually people that go through the same thing. I mean my family know that I blush and that’s kinda about it for what they know, I don’t think that they get everything that’s going on with me like in my mind I want it to stop and it just won’t. I’m a freshman in college now and it definitely holds me back, I had a great time in high school but there were things that I wanted to do but I was too afraid. And then it wouldn’t help when I would have to go up and speak for a project in the front of class, I actually end up not saying everything I want to because I hate the feeling because I can’t control it. For me it’s not just my face that feels like a million degrees, it’s my arms, my back and my chest, they get red and blotchy. And the worst part is I do all that and I rush to my seat, sit down, and try to relax, but then of course someone next to me is like âDo you know your face is really red?â I mean really it’s not like I go up to you and say âYou’re really ugly did you know that?â I course I know it, I feel like I’m on the sun. And I know that it’s just going to get harder for me, right now I’m only at a community college, but next year I’m transferring to a different school, I’m going to be living on campus and I am so afraid of that because it also happens whenever I meet new people. And it’s just going to be the same thing over and over again, and I don’t want to deal with that. I feel like I’m going to end up shutting myself off during one of the best times in my life, and I don’t want that to happen. I know that I need to get over it because later on I’m going to need to be comfortable talking to new people, I’m going to need to do interviews and be able to talk to people, what happens if I get married, I would need to be able to be the center of attention and stand in front of a church of people and be at the reception where people are going to be watching me and my husband for a day. I don’t know if I could do that. And I know that you’re supposed to do public speaking, yeah it sounds easy but trying to do it is hard. Then there’s trying to talk to guys, and that seems impossible sometimes, because it’s written all over your face. There is this guy I’ve known since second grade and it still happens. I absolutely hate this, there are those questions where they ask what you’re afraid of and I think it’s so said that I pick public speaking over me being afraid of dying.
Naiive says
thanks God I found this term from Grey’s Anatomy and now I know I am not alone. I got this after I had a bad marriage life. I felt so totally insecured and during that time I had all blushing. couldnt breath properly. almost fainted everytime I got anxiety on whatsoever! now I passed through that bad marriage life and alone… however, this symtom happened when I had to be the center of attention e.g. Public speaking.. OMG… anyone please help me get over this! totally,please!
Tom says
My facial blushing is controlling my life. It keeps me away from doing the things I want. I’m a senior in highschool so there are many social events. I want to take part in them, but it’s hard when you know there will be situations when you turn red. School is the worst for me now. I used to love school and learning but now I find myself skipping classes if I think were doing something that will make me turn red. My blushing has gotten worse throughout life now knowing when I’m about to blush or am blushing. Anytime I am called on in class, I instantly turn very red creating an awkward uncomfortable situation. Eryhthraphobia restricts me from learning, meeting new people, having fun, and just being myself. This makes things like dating impossible. Just the thought of going red makes me red. I’ve yet to even see anyone that gets red like me in the most stupid situations. I have a severe case of erythraphobia and I need help. I have been shy my whole life an I think I have psychological problems. I feel like because of this I can neve be succesful in life. If someone has any kind of advice or methods that worked for them please post them. Do medication or hypnosis really help?!?!
Marg says
I have been dealing with severe facial blushing since I was about 14 or 15 years old. Like many of you have said, high school was a very daunting and excruciating experience for me because in certain classes I would blush constantly. Because of the blushing I began to talk negatively to myself and to this day I still have to stop myself for being so critical.
I began taking anti-anxiety and anti-depression pills around 15 or 16 and continued taking them for 10 years. The pills eased the anxiety, which in turn eased the blushing. BUT I still blushed. Taking a pill is by no means a cure for this annoying physiological trait. Besides, to make it work you’re supposed to talk to a psychiatrist while taking the pills. I would see my psychiatrist for about 5 minutes (long enough for him to write an Rx) and that was it.
About a year ago I stopped taking any medication because I was tired of relying on them when they weren’t even really working. This has been the hardest year for me. Not only did I stop taking the pills (and they are habit forming, no matter what those commercials say!), I moved across country, started a new job, quit the new job, and decided to apply for Grad School. Because of all these new changes, my anxiety level has been extremely high, therefore I can’t even go a day without blushing. Even at home, alone, with no one around to make fun of me, I still blush. FOR NO REASON AT ALL! That’s the most annoying part about it. It’s not out of embarrassment, my face just turns red.
I just started seeing a pyschotherapist whose practice is based in a more holistic way of looking at things. I’ll let you all know if there’s any progress in that. I think by talking, blogging, writing, or just getting on these forums helps to release some stress. And just knowing that there ARE others out there. That I am not alone. I am not a freak. Knowing that others deal with this same thing, helps.
I’m also looking into how acupuncture can help with anxiety and facial blushing. Will post details if successful. Cheers!
Tessa says
I am so happy I found this site. I have had this problem since about 6th or 7th grade (I am a sophomore in college now) and it really gets me down. In elementary I used to be so outgoing, but now I am shy and it’s really got my self confidence down. It happens to me in many situations, which sometimes can be completely random, but by now I know which ones will trigger it- sitting around the dinner table with family and being put on the spot, being called on in class, meeting new people. Mostly any unexpected situation.
This has seriously affected my life and I am not living up to my full potential because I am too scared my face will turn red. College is passing me by and I know I’ll regret not making friends and taking advantage of all the clubs I could join that could be helping my career. I’ve even based life decisions on trying to avoid this problem. I realize I must have social anxiety disorder and I need to see a psychologist so I can live my life and become successful instead of some shy office weirdo. I have a boyfriend and friends that I’ve known all my life, but I need to experience life instead of watching it pass me by! Lol, I’m done ranting now. Thanks for listening!
Rory says
just to add a little horror story to this collection.
A spin-off disaster to the redness is the sweating I talked about below.
I used to have hyperhidrosis which is excessive sweating. I would be in high school and would sit there in class as big drops of sweat would keep ticking away down my ribcage all day. Under stress like performances etc i would accumulate sweat patches the size of beach balls. I would always wear a sweater to hide it -even in the heat of summer.
I had a hankerchief thats sole purpose was to wipe my armpit. I would also bring a spare shirt to school to change into halfway through the day,
I went through a lot of really ridiculous pain before admitting to anyone i had a problem. I went privately to my gp who recommended a $7 bottle of Hydrosol that you apply like a roll on deodorant before you go to bed. In a couple of days i stopped sweating. Now i need only apply the hydrosol once every two weeks or so.
I mentioned the redness to the gp as well who was a little unsure. He suggested holding my breath for as long as possible (warning, this is not advisable!). I took his advice and just before I stepped out onstage for my drama performance, my heart pounding, face flushing, I held my breath for as long as i could and stepped out. My head went suddenly dizzy and i almost collapsed in front of everyone.
but i don’t sweat anymore đ
Rory says
Interesting comments here.
I was a confident, outgoing person who was heavily involved in drama and film making. In my earlier years i was a keen debater and public speaker.
Then puberty hit on, I saw some photos of myself giving a speech and i discovered that i was covered in flush. My flush goes all across my chest, shoulders, neck and up the sides of my face. It seems to be activated by an increased heart rate, adrenaline or embarrassment.
As i have come increasingly aware of this symptom it has become increasingly bothersome and i now feel extremely vulnerable in any social situation. It has the potential to switch on in a flash and takes up to half an hour to disappear.
I feel anxious and panicky constantly.
This has ruined my drama and public speaking and made my job as a salesperson extremely stressful.
There are several things i have picked up which may or may not be helpful:
1. Physical exercise can make you flush at first but as you work more and more the blood goes to your limbs and will stay away from your face. Also if you are tense the exercise will help work the tension off. Running and press ups are ideal.
2. Wear a scarf.
3. Grow your facial hair
4. girls can put makeup on their cheeks.
5. I’m ashamed to say i have a drink or 5 before anything big (not advisable!). Or sometimes even something small.
I’m still waiting for the miracle cure…
Emily says
I’m not alone feels good. I really thought it was my confidence or i lost my outgoing side technically i have but i realized i am very outgoing and confident so whats the deal!?!?!? this started when i got my boyfriend who I’ve been dating for 6 months i sat home on thanksgiving bc my family doesn’t live near me and i knew if i was around my bf family i would blush so i decided not to go i feel like it could jeopardize us because i cant be around his family sometimes friends i just want my life back!!!!!! its a horrible thing to have if it is a phobia i read something about focusing on a imaginary ruler but it didn’t work and i read about a pill eredicane which i want to try even though its soooo expensive any ideas?
Enzo says
MY GOD
i AM NOT the only one!
I have exactly the same problem…
I would like to get the ets surgery. If it works i will start like a new life.
But there are so many side effects.
What do you think?
Chris says
I’m in year 10 and i started blushing in about year 7 or 8. The paragraph above perfectly describes how i feel and i find i have ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days. I think now all my friends know i blush so much that they have got used to it, however when I’m in town or out i find it’s so embarrassing, i just wanna hide.
Also, I’m in a band (play drums) with 4 of my mates and when we first started i found it helped, as for some reason i didn’t blush when i was on stage – i think its because i wasn’t alone and seeing people rave to your music is a real confidence booster!
However now I’m finding it real difficult, i blush when im setting up my kit?! let alone on stage! I’m really worried about what will happen in the future, ive only ever just got on with it but its starting to take over.
Sometimes in class i start going red for no reason, like no one looking at me or anything?! and unless i move places or go out i stay like that for ages! anyone else find this?
I just hope i will grow out of it, and keep thinking that if i saw someone blush – would i see them as a bad person or someone weird?
…i’d like to just add in primary (lower) school i was by far one of the most confident kids in our year, i loved speaking and performing – the first time i blushed was in a music lesson in higher school when we were being recorded – i went bright red, then a girl pointed it out and everyone looked, it is the worst feeling in the world and the few weeks after that i remember everyone joking about it – since then its gotten worse and worse.
Just thought id add that to a previous comment because i think you can almost ‘catch’ it as you get older?
Rachel says
Um, yeah.
I pretty much thought I was crazy.
Like, honestly, this has to be the weirdest thing that’s happened to me. I’m glad that I saw this. I mean, it doesn’t make me feel better that lots of people have to go through this same thing, but at the same time it makes me feel better that I’m not the only one.
Someone said something about how they hated going to their job and not being able to leave. I have the same problem. This one guy at my work caught me blushing once and pointed it out (which is the worst!). Every time he sees me he says something about it, so that if I wasn’t blushing, I start blushing. I get scared to go to work because I’m always embarrassed. I want to get a new job, but at the same time I don’t want to give up or give into this.
I used to have a problem with blushing, but now I’m terrified of it. It’s the worst at work, but I’ve started having problems at school, and I’m worried that I’ll start blushing at church, just hanging out with friends, or even (but hopefully not) at home.
I’m trying to be more confident and just realize it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s hard to think it isn’t. Being singled out is what makes me embarrassed, and I’m pretty much the only person I personally know who has a problem like this (which makes it even more awkward!)
Mark says
Hi All,
I don’t have any facial blushing secrets to share, but I can completely relate to the pain that you all feel!
Mark
ella says
I too have Erythrophobia, it started a few years ago!!! i hate it so much.. i have no confidence to do anything in front of people because I NO I WILL GO RED!!! its so horrible when i do because everyone like wooo shes gone sooo red which makes me go redder!! I would say I’m a shy person that problem doesn’t help!!!
I’m so fed up with it!!!
Roxy says
My blushing started when I was in about grade 2 when I started to come out of my shy stage and it would turn red at the same kind of situations as all of you, when I would meet someone, see someone that I haven’t seen for awhile or when singled out, etc.
It gradually got better as I got older but was still there. When I just got in to high school, with it being a new environment and new people, I was so worried of turning red when reading or speaking out loud, that something else kicked into my nervous system. My face wouldn’t get red anymore but my heart would start pounding so fast and I could barely talk or speak whenever I would read out loud in class. I didn’t know what was wrong with me and this bothered me so much and I became very depressed and that’s all I thought about and I wasn’t that outgoing person that I was before.
My face never got red anymore, anytime at all which was good, but I hated this new thing way more then the face turning red. In the past 2 years of it being my last years in high school, I just got over that weird thing and my face gets red again sometimes. It still sucks when your face is beat red for no apparent reason, but it is way better then that other thing that came over me. I am back to that outgoing person and accepted that this happens sometimes. haha That’s my story, hope it helps!
Emma says
I am so happy that I’m not alone. I always thought that I was the only person in the world who would blush frequently.
I’m 16, and this problem started to occur around about when I was 14. My blushing used to be terrible at the start of the problem but it’s actually starting to get better. When the problem was at its peak, I was lower than low. I would avoid any sort of social situation and make up silly excuses to not go out with my friends.
Now I just try and relax and think to myself “You only live once, life is full of risks and challenges, I can’t let this problem bring me down!”
When I say things like this to myself and remind myself of all the positives in my life, it makes me feel so much better, and I forget about my blushing. I just think its all about self-esteem. You need to have the confidence in your inner body to be able to say “I WONT BLUSH” and hopefully you won’t.
I was missing out on things because of this annoying, infuriating problem, and in the end I realized, I’m not letting this bugger bring me down!
Now I just live life to the full and forget about this problem. It still happens occasionally, and even when it does, I just laugh it off. After all, that’s the only thing you can do đ
Megan says
Already wrote a comment, but wanted to add. I don’t know if there’s a cure, but there are ways to make your life better and be able to live with this.
I’ve found that it helps if you just tell people you have this condition and take the white elephant out of the room. You can laugh about it and let them know that if you’re turning a few different shades of purple, it’s okay, and you’re not going to pass out!! Then, if it happens, you’ve already discussed it, and you don’t have to worry about what they’re thinking.
Megan says
I am 28 years old and have had this same condition since I was in the 7th grade. It’s comforting to read that other people go through this same thing. I had no idea how common it is. When i was in school I used to get sooo embarrassed because my face would turn bright red and the anxiety would kick in like crazy. I shied away from ever putting myself in the spot light.
Now as an adult I work in a very public and professional career. Turning red doesn’t happen nearly as often as it used to, but it still does torment me at times.
I think it’s highly related to anxiety, which I also have. It’s also related to worries that other people will look down on me in some way, and even more so for turning red. I used to worry that other people would think I was insecure, which for the most part, I’m not (used to be, I’ve come a long way). Also, if you’re fair complected or blood vessels are close to the skin.
I think what helps me through this is just realizing, this is part of who I am. There really isn’t much I can do to change it, except to accept it. If I turn red, whatever. I’m going to continue living and enjoying my life and don’t want to dwell on it. If anyone else has a problem with me turning red, it is exactly that, their problem.
Liz says
I didn’t know that I would blush until I was in 4th grade and my teacher noticed it and said that I was red and told the class to all look at me because I was blushing so everybody was starring at me. I remember perfectly well were I was sitting and I am twenty seven years old now, it was in the middle of the class and i kept turning more red and I know that because my teacher kept saying it so that lasted about a couple of minutes until he had is laugh of the day.
From that day on I have fear of public speaking I hate getting put on the spot because I think I’m red and as I think I’m red I feel I’m getting more red and then I start to sweat now. I really do think I have this condition and hope for someday over come it, because It is very uncomfortable when people are looking at you trying to figure out why your blushing or how red your turning.
Elif, Istanbul says
Hi,
I have a few tips.
I work for a cosmetic company as a beautician, doing make-up and all sorts.
I have the same problem and to work with it in an industry like beauty is kind of not easy.
But I have lots of customers who are suffering from the same condition and some how it works out.
I am not a shy person at all, and even if I get red so what I don’t care.
when somebody mentions about my skin going red I quickly say that is a medical condition and make them feel ashamed about asking.
I joke about it with my friends and family, like saying, ohh… don’t make me blush or it runs in the family what ever you know. I like finding funny side of this because it becomes less series.
Anyway I hope someone will come up with something and be the millionaire, and we will all have a peace of life.
good luck to you all
Nicola says
Hi Guys,
I’m in the exact situation as all of you. I’m 28 and have suffered from this since I can remember. It especially happens in the following situations:
To top it off the main part of my job is public speaking so my daily life is quite stressful trying to anticipate and avoid situations where I know it will be triggered.
Today I went for an interview and I wasn’t nervous about the questions, instead I’ve spent the last weak in a panic over if I’ll go red or not!!!
I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news but I’ve tried propanolol and it didn’t work. I ended up taking 3 times the daily dose trying to get some result and still it didn’t make a difference.
I’m scared of surgery but I’m even more scared of spending the rest of my life avoiding situations where I know it will happen.
Good luck everyone, hope someone comes up with a cure soon!
Mike says
I am 43 and have experienced the cycle of having a smile on my face and normal skin tone, then in a matter of seconds, my face, neck, chest and head (shaved, which makes it even more obvious) are bright red and hot. Then seconds later, someone says “Look at how pink his head is” or “Why is your face red?” and the redness gets redder and the heat gets hotter. My smile has gone and the whole situation switches to me trying to make excuses to find a restroom, or say “I need to take a call” to leave the room, or some other way to escape.
I completely agree with the person that said the social reaction is akin to saying “Why are you so fat?” I am not being hateful. I am not being a jerk. Why would anyone have a reason to call me out for having a red face? I fail to believe that they are concerned and trying to help me.
I have seen a multitude of doctors that have provided nothing wiser to me than to avoid spicy foods, avoid certain varieties of seafood, avoid MSG, avoid alcohol, stay cool, avoid the sun, etc. I can come up with those brilliant suggestions on my own. Of course, locking myself in a bathroom will help me achieve all of those suggestions, but is that how the medical community “solves” problems?
My promise to you is that, when I happen upon a viable, long-term and acceptable solution, I will post on every forum out there with my findings. My promise is that when I see you turn red and then wilt and leave the room, that I will, in private, offer my sincere understanding and share with you what I find.
lindsay says
I’m just so depressed w/ all of this…….I’ve lived with hyperhidrosis for about 14 yrs (I’m 29)……….think my 6 yr. old has it also which is really hard for me to have her go through the same thing I’ve been struggling with for so many years
I’ve thought of going through surgery but scared of what might happen, i want to be there for my kids, wish i could just be normal.
jojo says
I am 45 and I remember the heat and redness of my chest, neck, cheeks and arms way back in the 8th grade!!! I used to get so nervous in history class just hoping the teacher would not call on me!! He sent me to the office several times and finally they called my mom and demanded she take me to the doctor.
The doctor told me and my mom that I just wear my emotions on my skin. I have specific triggers that 100% of the time will make me break out in this and then there are just random things as well. Like worrying about my kids or husband when they are driving home and might be 5 or 10 minutes late, trying to get somewhere on time but running a little late (which happens A LOT), anticipating the phone to ring when I know someone is going to be calling, and tons of other examples I could give but you would just quit reading!!
Anyway, I feel pretty good tonight to finally know the NAME of what I have had affecting me all of these years!
A couple of my younger sisters do the same thing, too, so I’m going to tell them what it’s called. Maybe we could get involved in group therapy (all of us from the same family! HAHA!)
Good luck to you all and I’m going to study more to find out what to do to help because having had this for this long has been WAY TOO LONG of a time!!!!
Steven says
OMG!!! I have suffered with this since I was at school and I am now 30, I work in a very public environment and the littlest thing sets off my blushing. Its a nightmare. It helps to discuss this with people who suffer from this too as i don’t think other people really understand. I try to be very outgoing but am very aware of my condition. i have always tried to avoid situations that make my condition worse, but in my job it is inevitable it is going to happen. Its very annoying as I enjoy my job and don’t want to give it up (the money especially đ
I do find myself avoiding certain situations though, especially dating and speaking up in large groups. I do find it holds me back from simple things in life. I’ll even find myself blushing just sitting opposite someone on a train or bus, which leads me to dread taking public transport How weird is that???
I would never consider surgery, but I am still looking for something that will improve my condition. Can anyone help!!! The only thing I have found so far that seems to improve my condition is when i have a hangover..lol, then it doesn’t seem to be that bad. I cant live my life getting drunk though, can I??
Gemma Taylor says
I have just recently started to blush frequently for no apparent reason. It only happens at work when I talk to colleagues (I remind you this never use to happen – same people) I can’t seem to deal with talking to people in small or large groups and in one to one situations without going scarlet red.
The company has recently moved buildings and this is around the same time I have started going red. Help, what is going on and how can I stop this. I have a presentation to make next week and am dreading it .
amy says
This is so wonderful to know that im not the only one.
My face turns red when :
– I am in a work meeting
– I am at a work station where its open and people can directly see you (open space )
– when i see someone i haven’t seen in a long time
– when someone talks to me
– when someone asks me something and i don’t know the answer
I am the type of person that will talk about anything ! i mean anything in front of people. its like i’m not myself, i say whatever , but then i turn red. then someone points it out and it gets worse. it ruins my whole day and makes me feel lower than everyone else.
i am gonna try going to the doctors and getting some medication. but i am gonna try to fix it in between by going to a psychologist.
It really has an impact on my self esteem, but sometimes i get so mad at myself for turning red or avoiding situations because i will turn red , that i force myself and it really does help a little bit.
Thanks for listening,
Amy
yamous_@hotmail.com
Julz says
wow! This feels so good that I’m not in this alone! Its getting to the point of ridiculous. Even when someone says my boyfriends name I go bright red and if someone brings it up I go more red. I have always been shy but I think that I would most likely over come this if I didnt blush all the time. I try to avoid social occasions and like to go to places like the movies because its dark. I know this sounds stupid but its ruining my life.
I am considering hypnotists but I don’t want to break it to my parents. Last time I said something to my mum she was like eh its not a big problem and she doesn’t understand.
Can someone please help me?
Lily says
It must be hereditary, because my dad’s face get red easily, too. I think it’s caused by a lot of exercise, because my face get super red when I run, too. Exercise makes the blood vessels expand, and makes them expand easily whenever you are scared. I play a lot of sports, so I’m sure that’s why.
I’m just glad I’m not the only person who has it, because I feel like a freak around all my friends. It doesn’t help being in eight grade now, because I can’t even make eye contact with guys anymore. I also used to be good at oral presentations, but now I try to avoid talking in front of lots of people, because my face will turn beet red. I’m not exactly sure what to do, because I’m really shy, so just trying to overcome blushing would be a huge step.
Ellen says
This condition must be hereditary, or could it be learned? My mother, my sister, my son, and my daughter all suffer, as well as myself. The blushing and redness is embarrassing and random.
I, too, am shocked and relieved that there are others out there, but how can we overcome this? Is there an absence of skin pigment, or is it spiritual, or what? My face never tans, and I always wish I had something to hide behind: different color skin, makeup, long hair,
amy says
man! blushing is sooooo annoying. my dad has this shop right, and i want to help him and all but i cant because i blush like hell when teenagers come in. I’m okay with older people but when teenagers come in. my face goes so red i feel like its burning.
I’m still in school and i can speak to the class and all. i even won a competition. but when it comes to going to the shops or outside or working. i go really red. i get so scared of the shop its stupid. you know its like you don’t want to but it comes out. i told my friends and they understand the blushing and all, but why get scared of working if the blush goes away. but that’s the thing it doesn’t go away.
Sometimes i feel like this is how I’m going to be all my life. I’ve made plans. I’m gonna work with animals when i grow up instead of people. if that doesn’t work then my life is gonna be so hard.
I’ve read all your comments and i laughed at some because its true. its just us unlucky ones that have to deal with this problem. and the rest can get the chance to watch our humiliation.
life usually sucks when I’m blushing but at least there are some good things in life.
Thank god!
Erin says
I can not tell you how relieved I was to find this page! I’m not the only one that this happens to!.
My blushing started in primary school when a teacher put me on the spot, I got her question wrong and the class laughed at me. I never again put up my hand in a classroom setting without blushing afterward.
It was worse when I was younger but as I am getting older (I’m 25 now) it is happening less frequently, I don’t know if that’s because I care less now or that I am avoiding the situations that are my trigger. My triggers are a small group or intimate setting even if they are close friends, randomly anywhere anytime, in staff meetings or weirdest of all EVERY TIME I have to answer my front door!.
chrissy says
hahaha… been suffering this terrible condition for as long as i can remember. really gets me down, its just so hard to talk about to others, and noone can ever imagine what it is like unless they experience it.
I avoid hanging out with friends in fear of getting a funky rash on the side of my face, neck, chest and shoulders. When confined to social situations, heat and alcohol really set me off, ahhh.. the joys of life!!! It really is so ridiculous, why does it happen??
hereditary? spiritual? think a bit of both. Its taken me so long to pluck up enough courage to talk to my doctor ha ha and he pretty much laughed at me and said maybe you should just avoid social situations!! bloody hilarious.. ok i will live the rest of my life hiding in a box. What is the point???
People really need to be more educated on this terrible condition i suppose, but we’re all to scared to express ourselves about it. I can a mirror around with me everywhere i go so I can keep an eye on it. see if it sneaks up on me. ha ha silly, to be petrified of of a red rash coming to engulf me!!
ha ha I’ve even got it now just talking about it. so dumb.
I’ve heard anti histamines work, does anyone know about it?
There is a natural anti histamine called quercitin that I have been taking for about a week now hasn’t seemed to do anything yet though so not sure it works or not, maybe I should up my dose.
Maybe we are all just selfish people and If we spent more time putting more emphasis on others rather than constantly being concerned about was is happening to ourselves it wouldn’t happen so much.
I get scared that if I tell others about it, they will constantly be on the look out for it to happen which will make it even worse. It is the most ridiculous thing ever, It is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about before I fall asleep at night.
Maybe should all get together and have a competition who can go the reddest!! ha ha.
josh says
My cheeks are almost constantly pink depending on what cloths I’m wearing and and the temperature. It becomes hard when your lips turn purple when your cold and your cheeks turn red when your hot. So, not only are you being teased for being red your teased for being purple as well. Also I have fairly pale skin which i get teased for as well.
I usually blush when I feel that my face is already unusually red in comparison to everybody else. Also its always the same person/s in social situations that point out that your red. So I’m going to make an effort to discover their weakness and tease the hell out of them whenever I get the chance.
I feel that me blushing makes the people around me more nervous than I am. I’m also going to try not care about it anymore because it takes up too much of my energy.
Literally, I think I’m going mentally insane. I think I need help
dave says
Hi All
I work as a paramedic and when dealing with cardiac arrests/trauma etc, i always go red in the face and neck and its really getting me down my work is not effected although when i go into hospital to hand over the patient i feel the staff focus on my red/blotchy face .Is there medication out there?.
Pam says
I to have this problem. I have suffered with this all my life in random situations but now it’s non stop in any situation. It has caused me to isolate myself and avoid any social event of any kind. I have left work many times crying wishing this would just go away.
It’s so embarrassing. I turn not only red on my face but the redness runs down my neck to my chest and down my arms. It helps to know that I am not the only one suffering from this. I have great empathy for everyone here. Is there a treatment of any kind to get rid of this?
brenda says
I am so happy that i finally reached a site that i can hear other people with the same situation as me. I felt as if i was the only one with this problem!
Like many of the previous comments, I blush for the stupidest little things, it use to be worst and it all started when i was in 7th grade i believe because i can’t really track it back before that. when i was in sixth grade i was so outgoing i was the teachers pet. I always wanted to be the one to raise my hand to answer the questions and i enjoyed talking in front of the class but as soon as i reached middle school and puberty i guess that i started having the blushing problem.
I hate when this happens and it is embarrassing to just turn red all of a sudden. i don’t know if this is just me but i get red and my face gets itchy in certain spots like in my neck and cheeks its probably because i have acne but its very mild and not that much.
I’ve always thought what could have been the cause to this and i think it started because when i hit puberty i use to have a lot of acne and my face really was filled with acne.
I guess i was always self conscious and when i was called on by the teacher or put on the spot i wouldn’t want anyone to turn around and look at me because of my acne and i guess that is what lead to me blushing.
Until now, which i have graduated from high school already, i suffered from facial blushing but not as severe as i had it before. i really wish that there was some way i can stop having this problem because i feel like i am missing out on so many things in life that i want to do, but i cant because i don’t want to be embarrassed and my face to be all red.
I now regret many things that i wish i could have enjoyed in high school like to be in some type of sport or club but i wasn’t and now i will never be able to go back to high school. That is why i want this to stop so that i can feel like i am actually living my life and i want to enjoy doing things with out having to worry about turning red or embarrassing myself.
So far i think i will probably speak to a therapist about my problems; maybe they can help me overcome whatever i have and put a stop to this struggle in front of me.
Eli says
Honestly this problem keeps me up at night analyzing all the times I’ve been even more embarrassed when someone would point out my ridiculously tomato red blushing face. I would try to ignore it and go out, but no it would not stop happening and so many times it would be back to back blushing attacks!
I’m giving up, I’m not going out anymore, its too much to bare. it’s not fair for someone to go through this much anxiety when there around people. not to mention i sweat like a manic too around people.
Emma says
Hi Everyone,
Thank the lord for this site!, I have suffered from panic attacks for many years but have suffered from extreme blushing only within the last 3-4 years and let me tell you, it is controlling my life. I have been given propanolol (Beta-Blockers) for migraines but it also treats anxiety and it’s side effects (blushing), not started to take them yet but this is my last hope. I will come back and let you all know if they work. Fingers and toes crossed!!!.
Shannon says
Oh man, I am so glad that I’m not alone and that there are people out there that have the same exact problem as me! I turn red over the stupidest things. I am considering the surgery for it, because I feel that i have a pretty severe case… I am an actress and I love what I do. But when i get “an attack” i tend to mess up my lines and fall victim to this stupid thing i have, which doesn’t look too well on camera! It would also help my love life so much more too, so that i don’t always blush in front of a cute guys that RARELY come up and talk to me. Are there any ways to do it herbaly or with a therapist? It’s getting to a pretty bad point. I want my life back!!!
Caitlin says
I have read everyone’s comments on here and I am glad to know that I am not alone!
I have never been the most confident person in the world, in fact, I have always been shy. However, I always remembered that I never used to blush. Even when I felt insecure or embarrassed I would never blush. It just started happening during my junior year of high school up until now. I am going to be a sophomore in college and I am really tired of blushing. Much like many of you, I blush during social situations, when I think about blushing, when I see an old friend at the mall or restaurant, and the worse is when I get called on in school.
I used to love answering questions and sharing my opinion, but now I am so timid, and I avoid being called on as much as possible. Even if I am confident that I know the right answer the second I begin talking I can feel my face burning red. And it does suck whenever people point out how red your face really is.
I really don’t understand why I have this problem now, and I have been trying so hard to find a solution. I always wonder if tanning will help. I put on a lot of cover up when I know I will be in a social situation. Has anxiety pills helped? Does hypnosis even work? I feel so lost and I wish I knew what to do.
Michael says
I really get upset when people point out my facial blushing. I realize they don’t know what its like but it’s pretty much just like saying “Hey, why are you so fat?” I mean what’s the difference? I don’t feel the need to point out people’s flaws and I don’t understand why anyone would.
brandon says
I’m frequently asked,”why is your face red?” and then I really don’t know why but sometimes at the lunch table at school (I’m 15) I’ll be telling a funny story and I’ll be red. I’ll laugh at a joke I heard and I’ll turn red.
Also when I tie my shoe or stretch before playing a sport, I raise my head an I’m red. I see someone I haven’t seen in awhile again I turn red. And to finish it up it only gets worse when someone points it out.
What is it? could it be the serotonin (or something) in my blood, because I don’t really feel embarrassed about anything that happened but I look like tomato.
Please help if anyone has any answers.
belinda says
It’s always been easy for me to blush but now my fear of blushing hangs like a black cloud over my head at the thought of ANY upcoming social situation…
Before any event that i know would cause me to blush, i really have to prep myself. Like for instance, put on make up, drink coffee – as it constricts blood vessels… yes I’ve done a lot of research. Sometimes i feel as if it’s progressively getting worse.
Now anything can cause to go red… sometimes just the thought if going red. The root of my problem is blushing is probably a bit of social anxiety or self consciousness though that may be the very thing that’s caused those problems. Anyhow, so I’m working to tackle my issues with social anxiety/self consciousness first. And hopefully if i learn not to care, my dreaded blushing will finally go away.
Glen says
Same kind of story here, I’m going to be turning 40 this year, and I’ve suffered (the only word for it) since I was mid 20’s. The best side effect of this condition is that I so hated being stuck in a social position and not being able to leave (like a 9 to 5 job!), that I started my own business so that I would have the freedom to leave places when I wanted to. However, now that I have found success and broken the 9-5 prison, I’d like to lead a full life. I don’t like to be reliant on drugs, and I certainly don’t like the sound of cutting up my nerves.
Robert says
Cole, the last thing you want is Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy! There are so many, many testimonials on the internet as to how this surgery made things worse!
For those considering this type of surgery, please, do your research before you proceed and you’ll find some very scary stories! Look at the comments people have left on this site under the ETS section and you’ll get an idea of what may happen!
Thanks to sites like this for allowing people to share their experience! Chances are the physician won’t point them out đ
Cole says
I have seen everyone’s comments and we all share this in common…
I have suffered for about 1 1/2 years. I have been on every type of antidepressant, which really does not work.
My mom found that Erythrophobi is caused by the Thorascic Nervious System T-2
What is the cure? Is surgery really something I should consider?
Shane says
YA…. so far I haven’t read any erythrophobia like mine yet. I tend to blush at the most random times just because it comes to mind that i might blush. If i even think about blushing in social situations i will start blushing, with addition to situations that just put the attention on me that make me blush.
Also my FAVORITE is every time I’m driving and have time to think, i will think about how I’m driving or for some reason think about blushing (idk really know i just start thinking) and i WILL start blushing. I mean how sweet is this… no one is around but in cars, no one can see me.. and I STILL BLUSH!?!?!? No one really knows i do this because i haven’t told anyone this part because it sounds insane but this is the epitome of what i do.
I recently looked up some hypnosis stuff and downloaded some free thing i found dealing with confidence and started listening to it. BUT HEY GET THIS, EVERY time I start to relax, lay down and listen to it, I START BLUSHING… just because I’m thinking about why I’m listening to this and how people might think of me because I’m listening to it.. I do this when no one is around or I’ll go to bed and my roommate (in college) will be just sleeping (so i know there is no way he’s like sitting there and just knows what I’m listening to on my i-pod) but i still blush.. so i swear this thing just makes me blush more than it helps..
so what do i do when things that are suppose to help make it WORSE??? not that cool really.
I wrote all that first hoping people might be able to relate but i also consider myself a fairly confident person in many parts of life.. I consider myself pretty good looking, i am decently smart (still in college), have a pretty cool family, have cool friends, pretty motivated… but yet still im so self conscious of what others think and just master at blushing when i think people are thinking about me or judging me or just like recognizing me as a person in their presence.
Well.. helps a little to know other people blush but don’t know what to do about what i have.
ps. lightly blushed through writing this whole thing for no reason :DDDD
debbie says
Wow, i though i was the only one being weird! I blush when I talk – it doesn’t matter to whom. Especially with numbers, for some reason, I can’t say a number without turning real red – the worst thing is, usually, i don’t FEEL it when I’m blushing! And just to top it off, I’m in high school: erythrophobia + hormones + giving talks = not a very good combination.
I just don’t know what to do! But I guess it’s kinda comforting to know I’m not the only one that immediately flushes when they say the word ‘four’…. Ok maybe not specifically but still…
I guess we just gotta stick in there!
kelly says
I can’t believe how many other people that are out there that feel the same as me!
I started blushing around the time I was 18 and it got worse. It got to the point I wouldn’t even go to dinner with the own family! I’d hide in my room and sneak in a beer to relax before going out. I realized how sad and pathetic this was making me feel so I started to see a psychologist.
I started Lexapro and psycho therapy and it really helped. I’ll be 29 this year and have been off the meds for 2 years, I really wanted to see if I could control this w/o medications. It seemed to a bit, but I still turn red, and it’s at the stupidest things! Like when my teacher calls in me in school or I tell a joke.
I’m a VERY outgoing fun loving person who loves to talk and meet people. But if I run into someone I haven’t seen at the mall or dinner or something, boom, I’m a friggin firetruck. I hate it so much b/c I feel like I’m not to my full potential with work or school b/c of this.
I’m a lot better than I was, but I still suffer from it. Weirdest thing is, I finally told my sister and brother about it (while totally turning red) and they told me they suffer from the exact same thing!!!! What In The World? Could this be something genetic we all have?
Thanks for listening.
Celeste says
I agree with everyone and would like to find out some answers too. My arms and neck turn red as well as my face. I don’t have to be doing anything and I look down and I am red. Wish we could find some answers.
josh says
hey guys i am just like all of you!! I blush all the time even in front of family, and that’s the worst!! but i found a site that said that i could reduce blushing by practicing relaxing myself by taking deep breaths everyday so that when a situation comes i am able to relax myself.
I believe it can be spiritual, if your sinning or doing things you know is wrong, it makes you feel guilty all the time, thus, you will blush a lot more. At least this is how i feel. I am blushing a lot lately so i am going to practice relaxing each day and also try to serve the Lord more!! The Lord says “Ask anything in my name and I shall give it to you”. Well, I have asked the Lord to help me with this problem, if i will start serving him more diligently. I’ll let you guys know how it goes!
Chele says
I wish I could understand it, too. I used to blush in high school frequently, so much so that if anyone said anything negative about me or to me and I blushed, it was assumed that what was said must be true. I also blushed a lot when I thought a guy was cute or got otherwise put on the spot. Very embarrassing!
I blushed less and less as time went on, but now I have a job where I’ve started to blush a lot again. I don’t get along well with certain bossy/pushy coworkers, so I fear blushing, then I start to blush, and when I realize I’m blushing, I get embarrassed and start to tremble. It’s like high school all over again. I hope that someday I will be confident enough that I can deal with any situation or any person without looking like a fool. Not caring what other people think and not being a pushover are skills that take practice.
Becka says
I am so happy I found this site. I have always turned red now and again but now it’s OUT OF CONTROL!!! I would do anything to stop this. I am starting to worry about turning red ALL the time. Just thinking about turning red, turns me red. I just don’t understand how this got so bad.
Hey people here’s the kicker, it only happens at work. I am honestly a confident person. I even take myself out to dinner, by myself with no problems. I guess I just have social anxiety when it comes to work. The worst part…..I’m a child psych counselor. I lead group therapies. Just tonight I was doing a group and my coworker put me on the spot….BOOM I’m a silly color red and want to hide. Thank God I’m dead sexy!! LMAO…..and turning RED.
josh says
Yeah it is good to hear that other people have the same problem. I’m kinda like Lisa where it gets really bad in intimate settings, but also with new settings. It can be something personal, or completely random but there it’ll go…face bright red which makes everything become awkward and then more awkward because the person thinks I’m embarrassed, or modest about it. It’s getting to the point that i am beginning to avoid new things. Boo!!!!
michael says
It happens to me at random times and it worries me so much. I get really scared when I know people will point it out and i will go even more red. I’m in year 10, can anyone help me?
Dolores says
Como me estĂĄis soy Dolores medica del ClĂnico QuirĂșrgicoâ de cuba, se que somos muy famosos por tu nuestra medicina y tratamientos, pues no estoy aquĂ para hablarles de polĂtica, quiero contarles que desde que tengo uso de razĂłn padecĂ la psoriasis, se imaginan que segĂșn todos creen aquĂ es lo mejor para la cura, independientemente si posees o no del dinero, aquĂ no hay tal cura amigos, un dĂa chateando con otra persona que no conozco pero que agradecerĂ© toda mi vida, me hablo de una crema que se estaba elaborando en Argentina, para mi era difĂcil creer, y conseguirla, con los problemas de aduana pero muchos me ayudaran y lego la crema, yo les recomiendo a todos los que puedan usarla ya que no saben lo curativa que es, es impresionante el cambio en mi vida, se que ahora estĂĄn queriendo traerla a mi paĂs, muchos colegas que se han enterado por que mi caso era muy famoso, toda una vida de padecimientos, solo quiero decirles que mientras la crema este en manos de una persona como, la crema sanara cuando pase a manos de otros dejara de hacerlo, a nadie le conviene que la psoriasis tenga cura se los digo como medica con conocimiento de causa, por el dinero trataran de que la crema no sea tal y no llegue como es la formula se los aseguro. Por eso admiro a esta mujer que pudiendo vender esta formula (a un dineral) no lo hace por que sabe que la crema dejara de curar, por que no la haran con los componentes que tiene la original, ellos quieren esclavos y clientes por siempre.
Les dejo mi historia tal vez los ayude a tomar la mejor decisiĂłn.
Annie says
I hate to say it, but it feels nice that there are other people out there too. I swear, I’m the only person i know who deals with this horrible thing. I take anti-anxiety medication, which helps a ton! It’s called Lexapro, but I take the generic form called citalopram. I still blush, but it’s not nearly as frequent, and I don’t worry about it as much.
Sasha says
Good luck to all of you and thank you for sharing your stories! I blush randomly too. I never know when it will strike, but it does feel like a hot iron! And people say it looks like the tail lights of a car. When I do catch a glimpse of myself blushing, I am so amazed because my skin looks like it is glowing. Lol…too bad it is not considered a talent!
I just wonder what it comes from…I usually find blushing cute on other people, but it scares me on myself! I also have anxiety, and get sweaty when I am anxious…or in public usually, or with close friends…there is no rhyme or reason. But I realized that I am really outgoing and so I never let it hold me back, no matter where I am!
So, it is not that I am proud to blush, but I am proud to be me, and no one can make me feel bad for a silly emotional response. But it is true that it gets better over time. Hey, things could be worse, right? Take it light and you’ll be fine!
luis says
a mi tambien me pasa de todo pero de todo me pongo rojo yo casi siempre voy a comidas donde hay mucha gente reunida y el solo hecho de pensar ke va haber mucha gente ya llego todo rojo por ke se ke mas de alguno me va preguntar algo y todos me van a mirar no se por ke me pasa esto YO NO ERA ASI gente de guadalajara deberiamos de juntarnos para platicar sobre nuestro problema kreo ke asi nos sentiriamos un poko mejor y ayudarnos entre nosotros mismos o ke no es BUENA IDEA for Erythrophobia
Mandy says
I have this as well. Mine started in 8th grade and has continued since then. I wonder if there is some sort of hypnosis that could cure or help it? This is the one thing that I would most love to change about myself.
I agree with everyone, it is worse when someone points it out. I have had to have serious discussions with close friends and family about it to make them realize how badly their jokes hurt.
Good luck everyone!
Jared says
Man, I have the exact same problem as almost everyone here. I’m only in high school, and until just before I started, I had no problem with redness. ever. Then, come high school (and puberty, I hit that late) all the sudden my face is always red on both cheeks, and across my nose, sort of like a butterfly. Anytime there’s attention on me, my whole face gets warm, until some one points it out and it just goes worse from there one in. Life sucks.
Lisa says
I don’t really have a problem with public speaking. or really a problem with large crowds. It’s the smaller, more intimate settings that set me off. When I have to share personal information about myself (again, if it’s in a large setting, I have no problem) I turn bright red, then someone always mentions it, and I turn even redder. Even thinking about situations that might be a problem make me uncomfortable. Hence why I hate dating!
karen says
omg, i have this, and i used to like public speaking until just a little while ago!
Jim says
Hi Ted,
Thanks for sharing! It’s means a lot to hear from someone first hand!
Jim.
Ted says
public speaking is true- one year i had such a huge issue with this, and the next year i had more chances to public speak, and the problem was not as severe
ileana says
I have always blushed even though im not embarrased. That is why I hate when teachers put me on the spot in school. Sometimes I even feel afraid that I am going to blush! So I do believe I have Erythrophobia.
Well can I get cured if I go see a psychologist?
Or am I always gonna be blushing?
eric says
This describes my problems perfectly. I blush at the stupidest things, and for no reason at all. Is there any other way other than public speaking to get rid of this? Will I have to deal with this my whole life?
Seth Slaton says
I suffer from severe facial blushing and anxiety, I wish there was a natural cure to this!