Welcome to StopBlushing.org. This site provides a blushing guide, articles and videos on how to cure you blushing and facial flushing.

If you’re looking to buy a guide on How to Stop Blushing and Facial Flushing then Click Here. A lot of blood sweat and tears have gone into creating the Blushing Breakthrough Guide and if you give it a chance then I know it will allow you to cure your social phobia and take control of your life!

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!

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.

People with social anxiety often have difficulties with how they see themselves and how they’re seen by others. In other words, they think they’re just a big mess and everybody knows it, and that everyone is judging them based on this blushing issue. In reality, those things couldn’t be more inaccurate. Most people scarcely notice if someone has a blushing problem, and if they do, they really don’t think much of it. On the other hand, constant fretting over your perceived problem will intensify it.

Constantly having thoughts like:

• I must look stupid
• That girl must not criticize me
• I shouldn’t blush

can definitely contribute to the problem. Most of the time, we have thoughts throughout the day and don’t really even notice them, but when it comes to this issue, people often work themselves into such a state that they cannot control their emotions and their blushing. Those types of thoughts are not only a problem, but they are also inaccurate. Being criticized is a part of life, people just need to learn to deal with it, and blushing does not make anyone look stupid!
Positive affirmations on a daily basis can help to balance out the negative self-talk. However, sufferers need to realize this may take some time, because they are attempting to undo years of negative self-image.

One of the biggest problems with excessive blushing and other social anxiety issues is that sufferers feel like they are the only person in the world who has this problem. It’s also very easy to let negative self-talk put you into a position where your entire focus is on your blushing, which in turn makes it worse.

Realizing that many people have fears of embarrassment, real or imagined, and that you definitely are not alone in this can help you to cope with your anxiety over your blushing problem. It’s also important to realize that most other people really aren’t paying that much attention to you, and have not even noticed that you have a blushing problem. When others do notice you blushing, they often see it as a sign of humility, not many of the much more negative things that you’ve been imagining they think of you.

Daily positive self-affirmations are a start. Tell yourself every morning that you are strong, confident person capable of handling any social situation. Also say affirmations as if someone else was saying them to you, so that they don’t need to tangle with your negative self-talk.

Also, try to retrain yourself to focus on something else, which can often have an impact on your blushing problem. Many blushers are so introspective that they are already anticipating the problem before it occurs. Try focusing on the other person or people around you, the game on television, or the magazine or newspaper in your lap instead. For many people yoga can help teach focus and also assist with relieving stress, so it may be helpful as well.

For a complete understanding of why you blush, the triggers for your blushing, and how you can stop blushing why not download our 100 page blushing guide?

Fearing other’s judgment; they totally blow the blushing episode up to be this big, scary problem that really isn’t. A little redness in the face and a few stammered words are not catastrophic, but that person thinks they are. Those same people exaggerate the way their blushing affects others.

One “treatment” available for social anxiety and blushing is cognitive therapy. This type of therapy attempts to directly address all the triggers that a blusher might have for their problem. Sufferer’s anxiety is what feeds the blushing pattern, so cognitive therapy seeks to teach different ideas and feelings about that anxiety.

Therapy will also teach special exercises that aim to help reduce blushing, and patients will want to practice these often as the new, more rational information is becoming embedded in their mind. A combination of methods lead you to change how you think, feel, and most of all, perceive, blushing. These changes will help them to control over their blushing.

This type of therapy can take a considerable amount of time and patience, not to mention quite a bit of money laid out to the therapist the patient works with. Cognitive therapy, like any other treatment, does not work for everyone, and is just one option available to those who suffer from a severe blushing problem.

There are many exercises that a blusher can work on without a therapist; Blushing Breakthrough contains many exercises to help blushers work on recognising their own personal triggers and reducing anxiety.

Since blushing can be emotionally debilitating for some people, scientists have worked to better understand the physical process involved so that they can help sufferers alleviate the worst symptoms.  The psychological side of blushing, however, remains a mystery.

Here are the physical reasons why we blush:

Your body’s sympathetic nervous system controls your fight-or-flight response to situations, and works instanteously and involuntarily.  When you get embarrassed your body releases adrenaline, which is a natural stimulant- it speeds your heart rate and breathing, slows your digestive system, and enlarges your pupils.  These effects all prepare your body to fight or run, and they account for the instant of shock you feel when you’re embarrassed.

The adrenaline release also dilates your blood vessels, called vasodilation, to improve oxygen and blood flow to the cells.  This is what actually causes you to blush.  Your facial veins respond to a signal which allows adrenaline to dilate the veins, increase the blood flow, and causing the red cheeks that show others you are embarrassed.

Of course, there are other ways that our cheeks become flushed as well:  being in an overly warm environment, drinking alcohol, and sexual arousal.  These forms of flushing are different, because blushing is only phenomenon caused by adrenaline.

So, why do we blush? Scientists can’t answer definitely, but there are some theories:

Psychologists in the United Kingdom have posited that blushing is one way of enforcing social systems that people have established over the years. Our blushing shows others that we know we’ve made a faux pas, and we are suffering for it. It serves as a physical, though non verbal request for forgiveness. The theory is that being embarrassed shows emotional intelligence, since in order to be embarrassed; you need to have empathy and intelligence to be able to feel how others do.

For a much more detailed guide to why people blush check out Blushing Breakthrough. Blushing is treatable.

People with social anxiety are afraid that people will see their blushing negatively, as a sign that they are dishonest or weak.  However, it is possible that others will see someone who is blushing as shy or nervous, sensitive, or even ill.  The fear of blushing actually increases the possibility of the physical response, since the fear activates the fight or flight response and therefore the sympathetic nervous system.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Those with bothersome social anxiety would do well to seek assistance.  Therapists trained in cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT can help the sufferer to understand their beliefs and how those around them view their blushing or sweating- it is possible that others might think that the blushing is cute and not a sign of weakness.

CBT often involves having the sufferer confront their fears, and the situations that cause them to fear blushing and sweating.  Lowering the person’s apprehension about the fearful situations will also cause a decrease in the physical responses.

The good news is that there is natural relief available for these types of problems.  Slow breathing and positive affirmations to one’s self are often helpful.  There is also psychotherapy and other types of therapy that can have a positive effect without the use of drugs to control the problem.

Herbal remedies are all natural and work for many people who have social anxiety issues.  There are many different types which are used successfully by different people:

Lemon balm is often used as a calming agent to relax nerves and treat insomnia and anxiety.

Passion flower is known as ‘nature’s tranquilizer.’  Not only does it help combat stress, anxiety, and insomnia, it also contains alkaloids, which closely mimic monoamine oxidase inhibitors, which are often prescribed for depressed patients.

Kava Kava is popular in Fiji, where it’s been used for a long time. This herb has been called ‘nature’s Valium’ because it produces similar relaxing and calming effects in people who take it.

St. John’s Wort’s history for treating depressed and anxious people is legendary, and it has earned the nickname ‘nature’s Prozac’ accordingly.

Lavender is a powerful herb that’s well known for calming the nervous system, and is used by people combating fatigue, anxiety, nervousness, stress, and depression.

There are many other herbal remedies for social anxiety disorder and blushing: chamomile, valerian, and hops.  (Yes, many people take their hops in liquid form.)

Of course, it’s very important to talk to your doctor and be sure herbal supplements are right for you.

Do not try to combine herbal supplements on your own, but rather allow someone who is qualified in the field to do that for you.  Comprehensive formulas that work together can offer greater benefits than just one herb, if properly combined.  Leave that to the herbal experts!

If the blushing problem is the result of vasodilation in the facial area, beta-blockers can help to alleviate the redness problem. However, it really only works when blushing occurs only during specific situations, like when you need to speak in public. Taking the medication an hour or so prior to the scheduled time will keep the redness in check. Beta-blockers also lower your blood pressure, so unless that is needed in your case you’ll need to be careful of how much you are taking. Be sure to consult your doctor in this regard.

There are also some herbal medications that purport to be helpful with blushing. They are made with GABA, magnesium, Passion Flower, Valerian, and Taurine, which are natural substances used to reduce anxiety, insomnia, and stress, and for maintenance of the central nervous system. This type of combination of herbs might be helpful in relieving the anxiety and stress caused when your blushing problem is psychological in nature. This medication works on the assumption that your blushing is an involuntary emotional response to stress and anxiety.

Understandably, your blushing seems very serious to you. Please be careful when checking into products that might be helpful with your problem, and keep your doctor informed of any pills, even herbal substances, as they can interact with other medications you take.