Do people think it’s weird to see someone act nervous and blush for no apparent reason?  Maybe you’ve been misjudging other’s reactions for years.  Learning a little about ANTS or automatic negative thoughts can help you to understand more about this.

Since blushing is instantaneous and uncontrollable, it is a huge issue for many with social anxiety disorder.  Not everyone with social anxiety blushes and not everyone who blushes has social anxiety. However, for a majority the two do go hand in hand.

The element of surprise can often trigger blushing in people who are pre-disposed to it as a result of their social anxiety.  Being put ‘on the spot’ or made the center of attention unexpectedly can have a serious detrimental effect on you.  The resultant blushing then further embarrasses you and you wonder what people must think.

Since the physiological responses to blushing are devastatingly real to those who suffer from social anxiety, it is important to note that it is often set off by situations that aren’t rational.  Our perception is what causes our response, and not reality.  If we view the situation as embarrassing, that determines why we blush, and everyone has his own triggers for when they blush.  Some people only blush when made the center of attention in a large group, others may blush even when someone says hello to them.  It is this type of strong fear of blushing that often brings it on in very minor social situations, since we are worried and obsessive about it, which causes our brain to focus on blushing. So, you see that worrying about blushing feeds our fear and causes further blushing.

Learning that blushing is just something that happens and will pass is paramount in conquering your fear, and your ANTs.   Automatic negative thoughts (ANT) are unfounded, and generally incorrect. Not everyone notices you blush, judges you, and feels poorly about you because of it!

ETS or Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy is an invasive surgical procedure that can be performed on people who have excessive blushing problems, and also hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating.)  Many people who experience uncontrollable blushing hear about this type of surgery and feel that their problem is solved. Their doctor might recommend it, depending on the level of distress the blushing problem causes.

While for some people with the most extreme blushing problems, ETS might be considered, careful consideration is prudent before moving forward with this surgery due to the side effects it can cause. Keep in mind also that there isn’t any way for doctors to know in advance how your body will react.

One common side effect of ETS is Compensatory Sweating (CS), which means perspiring in the back and lower stomach areas. This happens with many patients, although many people say it improves the further away from surgery they are.  In some cases the patient feels the new sweating problem is worse than the blushing problem it was supposed to fix.

Facial blushing patients who received ETS surgery reported a 90% success rate.  Some have reported bothersome sweating, usually in the forehead, when they ingested spicy foods.

In extreme cases, Horner’s Syndrome can result, which causes eyelid drooping and constricted pupils, has resulted.  Also reported in rare cases have been bleeding or air leaks from the lungs.

Your doctor can perform the operation by cutting the sympathetic nerve, or by clamping it with titanium clips.  If you opt for surgery, the clamping method would be wise, as it can be reversed if you suffer problem side effects.

More detailed information and opinion on ETS surgery can be found at the following links:

ETS and Reversals Forum

Hyperhidrosis and ETS

Wikipedia ETS page

Have you considered ETS to cure your blushing problem? Have you had ETS surgery? Share your experience by leaving a comment below.