How to Cure a Blushing Phobia

Blushing phobia, also known as erythrophobia, is described as an intense fear of something that poses no danger to the person. Adults who have blushing phobia are aware that the fear is not rational, but that does not prevent the fear of facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared situation. Blushing phobia brings on a sudden dilation of the blood vessels, which in turn causes an intense flow of blood to the affected areas. Fortunately, there is a way to rid yourself of this phobia.

Blushing comes from either psychological or physiological circumstances. Psychological reasons include shyness or social phobia, while physiological causes are attributed to the "fight or flight" response.

Instructions

• 1

  Understanding your phobia better will aid in the process of curing your blushing. Figure out what circumstances trigger your blushing. Document where, when and why the blushing reaction occurs.

• 2

  Contact a therapist who specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy. This form of therapy adheres to the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external factors such as people, situations or events. One of the advantages of CBT is its relative brevity. The average number of sessions a client will receive is just 16 (see Reference 2).

• 3

  Contact your mental health professional or primary care physician about potential medical solutions for your blushing phobia. This phobia, after all, is a form of anxiety. People have been successful in overcoming blushing with beta blockers, anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants.

• 4

  If you prefer to take a holistic approach in lieu of medications, work on curing your blushing phobia through meditation, yoga, visualization and breathing techniques.

• 5

  Take up physical activities. Exercise has a positive effect on mental health. In order for exercise to be effective, it should be done for a minimum of 30 minutes, three times a week. Your activity should not be leisurely. Consider brisk walking, biking, or heavy activities where you break a sweat.

• 6

  Take charge of your blushing phobia with self-hypnosis. With hypnotherapy, on your own or with a trained professional, you will dig into your unconscious, which often reveals the root cause of your anxiety. Self-hypnosis techniques include using hypnotherapy tapes, downloadable programs and/or email correspondences from the comfort of your own home.