How the Blushing Response Works
Blushing occurs automatically, like the fight or flight response, and is an involuntary reaction triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. When we are anxious or embarrassed, our bodies are flooded with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which causes us to experience very real physiological symptoms. In addition to increasing the heart rate, suppressing the digestive system, and inhibiting pain, epinephrine may also act as a vasodilator on certain blood vessels. It causes blood vessels to widen, improving the flow of blood and oxygen throughout particular regions of the body. Blushing is an unfortunate side effect of the vasodilation of certain veins in the face. As these blood vessels in the face grow wider, the increased circulation causes the cheeks to redden. Vasodilation sometimes occurs for other reasons, including alcohol consumption and certain medical conditions.
Social Phobia
The fear of blushing can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder (social phobia). The fear generally is not of the blushing reaction itself, but rather of the attention that it might draw from others. If we are anxious or embarrassed, the last thing we want is further attention. The blushing is usually accompanied by a variety of negative thoughts that all focus on how we might be perceived. This, in turn, heightens the level of blushing, which further fuels the negative thoughts and then causes us to feel even more anxious or embarrassed.
Symptoms
Ironically, the strongest symptom of the fear of blushing is generally further blushing. As you perceive that you are losing control of the situation, you will likely grow redder and redder. In addition, you may experience such common phobia symptoms as shaking, sweating, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing normally. You might stumble over your words or find it impossible to continue a conversation at all. You might begin to avoid certain social situations or, in extreme cases, avoid going out at all. You might also develop additional social phobias, such as stage fright or the fear of eating in front of others, because of a fear that those activities might trigger a blushing reaction.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the severity and complexity of the symptoms. Often, the fear is not actually of the blushing response itself, but of the reactions that you perceive others might have to your blushing. Brief therapy options, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), treat the phobia by teaching you new thought patterns and behaviors that help lessen the fear. Medications are also available and are most often used in addition to therapy. In addition to therapy and medication, surgery is available to limit blushing in rare instances but is not generally a recommended method for treating erythrophobia.
