anyone else blush?

hi,

I've have a number of anxious symptoms, but the one that causes me the most embarrassment is blushing in public. I"m caucasion so it is noticable. I blush very deeply (and even break out in a sweat) at work, in social situations, and even with friends and it's profoundly embarrassing to me. Sometimes i say that i'm taking niacin (which can cause blushing) and i can tell that some people watch me to see if i'm going to do it (which of course i do). it seems to happen when people look me directly in the eyes or when certain 'taboo' types of subjects come up (like sex, mental disorders, etc.). But it can happen simply becuase i become afraid that it will happen. Some people seem to deliberatley NOT look at me when they talk to me, i think to help spare me the embarrassment. I can't articulate how lonely, isolated, and humiliated i feel. i feel like some sort of social misfit and it's like i deliberately want to humiliate myself.
:oops:
Any thoughts?

Hi Dee,
I have the same blushing problem, its a nightmare. I just thought i`d reply to let you know you`re not alone with this problem. Its not just my face that blushes, my arms and my neck go red and i break out into a sweat! I dread meeting people i know in town, even family or close friends cos i know i`m thinking to myself, don`t go red its silly, but it happens and i can`t stop myself. I don`t know about you, but when i blush and people see me i get home and feel so bad about myself and ashamed which upsets me. I do a few things to keep cool, if my friends visit me at home i will sit near an open door where its cool or in the garden that way i`m cold and theres no chance of me going red! My friend has a coal fire so when i go round i will sit near it, all night, then i have a reason for been HOT! I`m also hoping for a great tan this year so people will not notice my red face. Take care :)

Claire,

Thank you so much for your reply, it's a comfort to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with this. The day after my first post, I broke down and told one person. He was very understandng and suggested that maybe Paxil would help. And i'll try it. but i really would like to get to the root of the problem as well, there's obviously some reason i do this. It took a lot of nerve to tell just the one person but in a way it was a relief too. Anyway, good luck to you and i hope that you have understanding people in your life.

hi Dee
i`m so glad you could tell someone how you are feeling, it helped me when i told my best friend that i had a blushing problem. I think the more we worry about blushing the worse it gets, ive tryed taking a deep breath and relaxing my shoulders when i feel it happening, i find that sometimes helps me. Could you please let me know if you find anything that helps you, you mentioned paxil might work, let me know if that is any good. take care :)

Hi Dee

I too am a blusher! How embrassing not only do you fear going red we're making ourselves go red by thinking we're gonna seems silly really. My friends and family have all got used to it so they ignore it however strangers seem to blush for you. (just to make situation worse). I try to focus on something on there face i.e a spot or a funny mark it takes your mind of it. i feel for you i know exactly what you mean.

i used to blush it was worse when i saw someone who knew that i do it.As if they were expecting me to do it.fortunatly i dont do it anymore.The crunch came when i started doing it in front of my mum and dad.i felt that i had no control over it at all.BUT i learned to relax i got some relaxation tapes and somehow (i dont no quite how) but i stopped doing it gradually i just forgot about doin it.i do get scared that it might come back but if i dont think about it it wont return.I hope that this helps anyone whos suffering cause i did it so can you just get some relaxation tapes and try not to think about blushing so much.

JulieB's last message demonstrates perfectly how anxiety can be overcome with behavioural techniques... anxiety is a behavioural condition, it doesn't require deep analysis, psychology or drugs... just a structured elimination method that works.

I was the most shy kid in history till I was about 14, I used to blush like crazy. One of my teachers joined me up to a debating club and the blushing stopped!

Charles