Most people blush from time time in response to embarrassment, emotional excitement or simply an innate predisposition. In some cases, however, blushing is a sign of a larger anxiety problem. According to DermNet NZ, blushing is a neurological phenomenon that occurs when a person experiences a high degree of acute anxiety. The telltale physical sign of blushing often compounds the embarrassment, leading to an escalating physical and emotional cycle. There are various approaches to addressing blushing, but in the case of anxiety blushing, the key is to address the underlying anxiety through cognitive therapy.
Step 1
Identify and challenge irrational fears. You can help ease your anxiety and subsequent blushing by looking at your worst fears and embarrassments, reports Help Guide. Often, you may find that these fears and worst case scenarios aren't rooted in any realistic likelihood. For example, you might imagine that if you go to a party, you'll humiliate yourself and everyone will laugh at you. With cognitive therapy, you will replace this thought with a more realistic one, eliminating its power as a trigger.
Step 2
Confront the source of your anxiety. Known as exposure therapy, this approach puts you in direct proximity to your worst fears. Help Guide reports that exposure therapy is usually done in gradual phases, so as to slowly acclimate you to the source of fear. For example, if you are afraid of mice, you might initially look at photos of mice while working to explore and control your anxiety. This exposure will build progressively until you can be in the presence of the trigger without physical symptoms of anxiety.
Step 3
Practice relaxation exercises. Cognitive therapy also involves practicing physical calming techniques, reports Help Guide. Try deep breathing and relaxing your muscles in order to control your physical symptoms. By gaining control of the physical aspects of acute anxiety, you may be able to stop blushing.
Step 4
Consider managing your blushing through medication. DermNet NZ reports that various medications currently are used to prevent blushing. The central alpha agonist clonidine is used to stop blushing by dilating blood vessels, and beta blockers curb physical symptoms of anxiety, DermNet NZ says. You might also consider anxiety medications in conjunction with cognitive therapy methods.
