Behavior: Why Am I Blushing?

Blushing is a physiological reaction to stress that is sometimes accompanied by sweating in the hands and face. Sensitive people don’t contain their emotions, and they show their emotions through their bodies. When people who are sensitive are exposed to stress, their body experiences a type of “fight or flight” reaction. Their body releases extra adrenaline into the bloodstream, which alters the muscle tone of blood vessels, relaxing them, and allowing more blood into them. Since our blood is red, what others see is redness on our skin. Faces, necks and chests all turn red for short periods of time.

What causes stress that makes us blush? Embarrassment, feeling “caught” doing something illicit, and even fearing that we’re going to blush, can cause the blush to happen.

Ways to stop blushing include medication like beta-blockers or certain anti depressants. But a less invasive way to deal with blushing is to remember the following tips:

1. If you’re blushing because you got “caught” doing something you are embarrassed about or are lying about, instead of treating the blushing, treat the behavior. Consider why you’re doing something that is embarrassing. Or why it is embarrassing to you. If you’re not being honest with yourself, or with others, you’re going to have some reaction, somewhere down the line – whether it’s blushing or developing an ulcer.

2. If you’re blushing because you like someone, and your body can’t help but give you away, give in to the emotions! Blushing can be a very beautiful state, and the ultimate flattery to someone. Besides, what’s so horrible about their knowing that you like them? Great lovers always say, the body does not lie!

3. Don’t pretend it’s not happening — in fact, make a joke of your own “condition.” Say something like, “Look at me! I can’t contain my own emotions!” or “Oh, no, here I go again with the blush factory!”, and laugh it off.