BLUSHING: THE NATURAL REACTION OF SOMEONE WHO FEELS SHY OR EMBARRASSED

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, Charles Darwin was the first to talk about human emotions and to recognize their importance both in the survival of the species and in a social context. Analyzing them, he argued that blushing was "the most peculiar and also the most human of all emotional expressions. ”Today, we know how true Darwin's thought on emotions in general and on blushing was true, recognizing in them a type of non-verbal and universal language, known to all human beings.

However, redness in the face is a reaction that can have many explanations and that is considered from different perspectives. First of all, it is immediately connected to love, considering it a manifestation of this feeling, especially in the phase of falling in love. Then, it is associated with some moods, especially with embarrassment and shyness. What you don't know is that you may even be afraid of blushing: the classic phrase "you are red (or red) like a pepper!" in these cases it can have an effect of psychological malaise, leading, in the most serious situations, to panic attacks and other physical symptoms.

In this article we reveal why you blush, what erythrophobia is and what are the remedies to prevent facial redness. Remember that often, the redness is due to a sense of shame towards yourself and that to be comfortable with oneself it takes very little:

Why do you blush?

Blushing is due to both physical and psychological reasons. As for the first symptoms, the typical red color that occurs on the cheeks or on the whole face (even touching, in some cases, the neck and ears), is caused by the "increase in blood flow dictated by the" increase of adrenaline in the body. The balance of blood in the superficial capillaries of the face also triggers a strong sensation of heat in the affected areas.

However, the physical manifestation of "redness has strictly psychological reasons. In fact, it blushes when one feels a strong emotion, such as, in particular, embarrassment and shame. It is an" expression of non-verbal language identified by Darwin of the type defensive, so it should not be surprising that the redness also appears on the face of those who feel guilty or who are crying, because an external feeling of inner discomfort. Different emotion, but the same result, is the one that leads to blushing a person in a moment of anger, the one identified as "hot anger".

When do you blush?

Once we have discovered the physical and psychological causes of this "special" reaction of human beings, let's move on to the situations in which it appears most frequently. Normally it blushes when:

One is made fun of in front of other people;
You are in the company of your loved one or while kissing her or during the sexual act;
You receive a compliment;
You remember an episode in which you felt embarrassed or ashamed;
One is accused of something that has really been done;
One is particularly shy and has to speak in public;
We are struggling with anger.

It should be added that it is true that some people do not blush. This can be dictated both by physical factors, ie the distribution of capillaries in the "facial area and other reasons of this kind, and by psychological ones, given that there are those who are more likely to express emotions than others." Finally, boys tend to blush more in their early teens. It is precisely in this period where, if embarrassed by their redness, they can develop erythrophobia, with serious repercussions.

Erythrophobia: the fear of blushing

Although blushing is often considered a normal and almost "tender" reaction from different points of view, not everyone knows that there is erythrophobia, or the morbid fear of blushing. This phobia is a symptom of a "mental association made by" the individual. , it may be that a person has been embarrassed several times and was ashamed of this situation, in which he was pointed out his own redness and felt judged. In doing so, for those suffering from erythrophobia, the redness of the face has taken on a totally negative emotional meaning, which leads these subjects to try to avoid the manifestation of redness in all ways, establishing, however, a vicious circle of nervousness and stress that makes this facial reaction appear even more.

Normally, erythrophobes do not frequent crowded places and always try to cover their tracks if they blush with a handkerchief, sunglasses, and even copious amounts of foundation. This fear is not to be underestimated because it can significantly affect the lives of these people, both at work and in the private sphere. The anxiety and anxiety about a possible redness can lead to panic attacks, nausea and other physical symptoms , which can only be remedied with a suitable path of psychotherapy.

Remedies for those who blush

In itself, blushing is not bad, quite the opposite. It is considered the expression of sincerity, because it cannot be induced or controlled. However, when the redness causes more embarrassment and stress than the shame and social anxiety themselves then it becomes a nuisance and a serious problem. Thus, it can be resorted to. some remedies to try to prevent it. We recommend these 3 simple steps for a "therapy" against blushing.

1. Relax your mind and body

Your mind exerts a lot of power over your body and to try to contain the ailments due to blushing you have to put it into practice. Start relaxing your upper part, that is, neck and shoulders, inhaling and exhaling deeply and calmly. with your back straight and your legs slightly apart. You can help yourself by thinking that everyone is blushing and that it has already happened to you too and will happen again, so it doesn't have to be a problem. Finally, smile: this will not only help you make the blush more natural , but also to see everything from a different, more positive perspective.

2. Don't feel responsible and forget about it

If you think about it all the time and feel responsible for this reaction, know that it is possible that it occurs even more frequently. Remember that blushing is an involuntary act and, above all, it happens to everyone! Never blame yourself for it and give less importance to this "natural" disorder: you will see that it may appear on your face less often. Also, most people find "cheek redness" as a tender and cute reaction, so if you come across it public, it could be interpreted much better than you might think. Therefore, feel no "social judgment" pressure on of you.

3. Try the perfect techniques for relaxing

To always help the mind to relax and, with it, the body as well, you need to prepare them to be relaxed before you get the chance to blush. To do this, it is very useful to follow one of the disciplines that combine physical and mental exercise. . It is, for example, yoga that helps to drain the blood throughout the body, without concentrating in the facial area. Another valid technique is that of meditation of which there are various types. Both yoga and meditation are two valid alternatives to prevent redness, but in case you feel that "the reaction of" embarrassment "is already manifesting itself, you can try the fast and effective "therapy" of mental exercises: think of a frozen lake, cold water or all the people around you in a comical situation. You will see how moving your attention away from the problem will make everything easier .