Blushing Phobia, or rather Erythrobia, is a very common and learned fear harbored by chronic blushers. An excessive blusher with blushing phobia should not confuse their fear with the original cause of blushing. Usually, the blushing problem arises because a person is dealing with unknown yet treatable health issues along with deeply rooted insecurities. It can seem like a cruel joke when the fear of blushing becomes another cause of blushing, turning into something as debilitating as a phobia that disrupts daily life.
Erythrobia occurs when a blusher expects to blush, fears blushing in front of people and is terrified of what others think. This is a very traumatizing phobia, as no one wants his or her emotions to be so transparent. Sufferers of chronic blushing feel like they’re walking around with a big sign on their forehead stating “I’m nervous!” or “I feel shy!” An intense fear of blushing AND a fear of certain situations where people will see their red-faces are all a part of developing Erythrobia. Other sub-phobias can even surface…such as fears of specific people or places. This can be very devastating and the blusher might begin experiencing depression. If this is the case, try to avoid depression or anxiety medications, as once the blushing problem is cured, these symptoms will fade away as you regain confidence.
When someone has a Blushing Phobia, the actual blushing occurs in response to the anticipation of it AND the blushers tend to send their body into a state of fight-or-flight mode. Wanting the blushing to stop and wanting to run away all at once causes most people to tense up and hold their breath or breath shallowly. Breathing shallowly indicates to the brain that this is a threatening situation in which pain is involved. This is why one of the best ways to conquer your blushing phobia is to start relaxing and breathing deeply during your blushing attacks. This will seem very unnatural at first, but try practicing every chance you get. You might even notice a difference within a few days.
This is only the first step though. A blushing phobia, or any phobia for that matter, is highly interwoven into who you are – into your daily routines, thoughts and perceptions. Erythrobia is the manifestation of all your fears around blushing: how your skin looks in front of people, if it’s really noticeable, if people are judging you, if your friends think your weird, etc. Blushers can find the best relief through daily hypnosis and meditation, through which you’ll find that blushing is not something to be feared you’ll watch yourself beginning to control it. After no time at all, your Blushing Phobia will be long gone and you’ll start looking forward to social events, dates, meetings and so on.
One of the best things a blusher with Erythrobia can do is join a forum, where others with social anxiety can discuss how they feel. This helps reduce feelings of loneliness and shows that they’re not alone.