At one point or another in our life, probably most people have experienced that burning feeling in the face. Blushing is a normal human physiological response. I certainly recall times when I was in a class, making some points, which I strongly believed in yet at the same time I perceived other people might not agree, how my face went red, and then my ears and neck…
Blushing becomes excessive if it makes you anxiously aware of it and then the anxiety feeds the blushing. You can slowly and unconsciously build up a conditioned reflex that triggers the blush response.
The embarrassment of blushing can become so severe for those who are extremely anxious in social situations that the sufferer avoids social contact (known as social anxiety).
The problem with blushing
For many people, blushing can be traced back to one particular event (e.g. being put on the spot in front of a class full of people), and the self-awareness of blushing can lead to a vicious circle of being embarrassed about the blushing and anticipating it happening again. Becoming tense in similar situations and worrying about blushing often makes it more likely happen again. This is because our brain automates patterns of thinking, and for individuals who blush excessively, their brain has often automated worrying about blushing.
Thus you can become stuck in a vicious cycle: embarrassment causes blushes, then you become embarrassed because of blushing! So you blush some more.
Physical Causes of blushing
Blushing is caused by the widening of the tiny muscles in our blood vessels under the skin. Normally these muscles are partly contracted giving us our natural complexion. If these muscles are fully contracted, the blood vessels are closed and less blood can pass through them, which causes the skin to become pale, such as when we are threatened. On the other end of the scale, if these muscles are widened, more blood than normal can pass through, causing the skin to become redder.
These tiny muscles are controlled by our autonomic nervous system which can be affected by a number of factors, including heat, illness, or emotions. Emotions such as embarrassment, guilt, nervousness or shame can often cause blushing.
Be cool about the blushing
Most people who blush try to hide it and worry in advance about how they are going to deal with a certain situation. However, this often makes it worse. One way to break this vicious cycle is to announce when you are about to blush to others. Yes it is to draw attention to it yourself – “Oh, I don’t believe it! Look, I’m blushing!” This is called “paradoxical intention”. The more you accept that part of yourself, the more likely it won’t happen! When you decide not to hide it (especially when it’s obvious already), there is nothing you need to disclose in a different way, therefore there’s no need to blush. This is how you can short-circuit blushing.
Blushing is nature’s way of disclosing our true feelings. If, for example, I say I am not attracted to someone when in fact I am, I may blush. Feelings of being ‘on display’ uncomfortably and fear of being seen differently from how one wants to be perceived can also cause blushing.
Distraction exercises and deep breathing can be ways to help manage the blushing. Mentally rehearsing staying cool at the upcoming events, you send your unconscious mind and your body a powerful signal to actually be calm and cool (pun intended) in those situations. This is a form of self-hypnosis.
Treatment for blushing
Hypnotherapy can help control blushing by accessing the unconscious mind to discover the root cause of the problem and help you to learn how to deal with it in a calmer, cooler, more relaxed way. By re-framing the negative thought processes, you can feel more comfortable in situations that would usually cause you to blush. Through Hypnotherapy and Self-Hypnosis, you can learn how to direct your blood flow, to control the temperature in different parts of the body. Hypnotherapy can also help to increase self-confidence and self-esteem and reduce sensitivity to situations that trigger blushing.
There are many ways hypnotherapy can treat blushing. If you’d like to end it today, and gain more confidence being yourself, schedule your first session with Kemila in person below. If it’s online such as Zoom or Skype, please go to the Online Session page. For returned clients, click here for scheduling a Regular Session. Or if you have questions, you can schedule a virtual or In-Person consultation with Kemila.
146 WAYS HYPNOTHERAPY MIGHT HELP YOU
Discover for yourself how you can use your inner creative abilities to overcome and transform obstacles and limitations and to realize your goals in joy and freedom.- Strengthening Self-Confidence
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