Severe Fear of Blushing...Please Help :S

[blush2much]

I am new to the board, and I apologize in advance if my post is repetitive, but I am so anxious for any help that anyone can provide.

I have been dealing with my blushing since I was a teenager. However, it has become rather excessive and severe and I am now 32!

I have done CBT, not once but twice, with no success. I've been on various medications without much success either. Read many self help books, did hypnosis/NLP. Am I doing something wrong?

It's become an immense fear that I now expect to blush at every tiny lil' thing. I have noticed if particular individual make me blush, then I will blush everytime I come into contact with that same individual even if there is no verbal communciation!!

I think I have really tried everything out there...what am I doing wrong?! Any suggestions on what worked for you that may work for me? I'm having a tough time and it doesn't seem to get any easier. I'm also planning on starting a family and have held off because of this issue. I have sacrificed so much in my life because of my blushing, and I don't want to sacrifice not having a family because of it. So any suggestions from any pregnant women/moms out there on how you dealt with this?

Any suggestions, info or advice would be sooo appreciated!

 

[azurro]

you are not doing anything wrong. unfortunately, for some people blushing is very extreme and even if you try to change it and follow all the advices given here, it wont help you much. In my case, I do blush sometimes but is not as extreme as your case
I think in cases as extreme as yours, getting the ETS surgery is your only option
if blushing is really destroying your life you should go for it
many people have had success with the surgery and they dont blush anymore but there are side effects like sweating etc etc
if you dont mind the sweating then id say save your money and get the surgery
in my case id never have the surgery because my blushing situation is mild

 

[cure]

Go see a doctor and get a blood test. A fear of blushing is psychological but your blushing might be caused by a health condition that you have or by something that you eat.

Hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, carcinoid syndrome, high histamine levels and probably some other stuff can cause blushing.

SSRI Antidepressants like Paxil can reduce or eliminate your blushing for a period of time. I've read somewhere that a guy took Paxil and it stopped his blushing for 10 years.

There is also a cream for rosacea called Sansrosa that is being tested that COULD work for blushers too.

ETS surgery should be your last option to stop blushing. I would do it only if nothing else worked and before suicide.

Good luck.

 

[doesit]

i have the same problem only im male :/ so its different story with dealing and its harder.And since you are a woman it should be easily dealt with makeup because theres million kinds of powders creams cover up stuff and etc.You just need to find right stuff which would cover you and make you look natural,and the burning feeling would still be there when you would blush ,but after a while when you will see that people doesnt notice it the fear of blushing would decrease.Also try different kinds of beta blockers or anxiety meds.

 

[IJustWantMyLifeBack]

I know how you are feeling I'm the same age and the same thing has happened to me it only started 3-4 years ago before this is was sweating.. but it's so bad people ask do i need a doctor when it happens... I really wish we could all work together to fix this issue.. as my life is so sad because of it

 

[DownInAHole]

I still have the daily struggles with this, but for big events/presentations beta blockers were a life saver for me. I could get through college presentations much easier, and was definitely a confidence booster.