I have blushed around family members too, when meeting them for lunch in a busy downtown setting. My father and brothers did too. I felt like it was kind of sick. I didn't want others to see us eating a meal together looking like that. Anyway, I have also experienced working on this program to go after the people that make me blush intentionally to work on the facing of the fear of it. And sometimes, I too felt free finally from the blushing and fear of it. But sometimes, after being happy I did not blush; I also became depressed, because I no longer had a dream about someone liking me too much. Isn't that sick? First I didn't want to blush, and then, after not blushing I felt bad I wasn't. This blushing thing has not been only for one year....for me it has been most of my life; starting around age 10 or maybe younger. I noticed it more when the hormones began to change around puberty. Maybe it has a hormonal link too. Now I am 45 and starting to go through the change of life. I often have sweats and blushing, but I wonder sometimes if it is fear of blushing or hot flashes.??? Anyway, I am much better now on medications, than I was all throughout my youth and younger adulthood. I am trying to let people know at times that this has been my life, because I do not live around the people that I grew up with. If I did, I know they would understand me better because they would have seen me from the beginning and realised who I really am.

I suffered with a fear of blushing for about a year. I understand exactly how you guys feel. To me, it started usually only when I was in class but it became so bad that I even feared blushing with my family members! At school, I would feel myself blushing and would then fear that everyone was watching me and that I would just run out of the room embarrassed. It tormented me for about two semesters in college. Besides this, I was also fighting some obsessive thoughts and panic symptoms, which added to the blushing all led to a severe depression, that thankfully diminished when I came back to college this fall. The depression was so bad that I told myself that I would prefer the blushing a thousand times to that horrible feeling of despair. I told myself that the only person who was sufferring was myself. I told myself in the beginning of this college semester that I would blush whenever I wanted to. If people had a problem with it, it would not affect me. There is nothing wrong with being embarrassed. There is nothing wrong with blushing. I told myself to blush whenever I wanted to, and if anyone noticed, I would simply tell them that I have this phobia of blushing and to just ignore my blushes. Miraculously, once I was really decided to blush anywhere, whenever I felt myself blushing (such as in class), I told myself to go ahead and blush and for some reason I didn't. It was the most beautiful feeling of freedom at that moment. After that, whenever I felt like blushing, I decided to just let myself, and I am proud to say that for two weeks in college this semester, I have not blushed and later felt completely miserable. The few times that I have blushed have been subtle and I do not feel bad about them because it's really ok to blush. Amazingly, I even feel much more comfortable and confident in my surroundings. I talk to guys normally now, even the cute ones! Come on everyone, blush and be proud of it! If you feel that someone might be looking at you weirdly for it, just tell them that you have a phobia of blushing. People will simply ignore your blushing later, and your mind will eventually even forget that you ever had this problem. We need to help ourselves. The power is in US. Trust me, blushing is a lot better than being severely depressed as I was. Th

Yes, any suggestions that you might have to improve my coping mechanisms for my social phobia and blushing would be appreciated. When I was first diagnosed, I was not truely honest with myself or the doctor, I thought I was having panic attacks and anxiety, however now I know it is social phobia, which seems to be a little different. I knew I wasn't having a heart attack or something physical; and I knew who I blushed around...people in authority, men I was attracted to, speaking in front of a crowd, etc. and sometimes even around women...not because I was in love with them, but because I was afraid of blushing. My whole lifestyle and belief system enabled me to have to face my fears whether I wanted to or not. But it also brought on extreme depression at times, or at least they occurred simultaneously. Since I have gone through the panic program, and I am taking medications, I have been able to cope better with it. My nervous system is more relaxed, and usually I am ok except around other people who have the same problems. There is one man who I respect and admire a great deal, and have almost thought I was falling in love, however, I remember back to all the times in the past when this has happened, and think it is just fear of the repeated blushing. Well, this person always gets rosy cheeks around me too, I think I made him worse; and now he is moving away from this area and a long time career and I wonder if it is my fault. Whenever we are together there is electricity in the air. When I am on medications, I feel much better, as I have more self control and dignity or feelings of self worth. That is why I cannot think of going off of them right now. However, I am not working, and have a pretty peaceful life at the moment. If I was back in a stessful work situation, it would probably become a problem again. I think now, who will be the next victim of my blushing? O.K., maybe that is a little dramatic. I learned through the program that I should try to speak to these people more often instead of avoiding them; and try to enjoy the feeling while it lasts. I am wondering if I never blushed again, that life might be a little boring or unexciting after all. I love people who blush, because they are like me, and understand how I feel, and that is

Redface, Blushing is usually associated with "social anxiety". Our doctor on staff has told me that this happens to a lot of people, including myself. During presentations I can feel my face get so red, I feel that my head is boiling over. I had to work at blushing and still have to to this day. My coping mechanisim for when blushing occurs is too think of something else. I try not to focus on my blushing. I believe for me it was increasing my self-esteem. I put myself in situations where I would blush. When co-workers say "why are you blushing", I would make a funny comment and blush more. Everyone is different when coping with blushing. If you need any coping mechanisims for blushing please let us know and we can work on this together. Thanks for the great post! As you can see "we are not alone"! Melanie _______________________________ The Panic Center Support Team

Is there anybody else having fear of blushing or fear of falling in love with someone who does not love you back? Does anyone fear that nobody likes them? Do you ever feel you will never bond closely with another human being? (Maybe I exaggerate a little but that's how I am feeling!) My husband says people like me, but I cannot seem to make any friends lately. Nobody understands me.....except people who are afraid of getting too close. I feel like crying tonight...