Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think I'm too bloody old to still be blushing???

74 replies

FaresPlease · 02/10/2013 21:02

Just that really. Happens when i speak to pretty much anyone i'm not completely comfortable with, which is basically everyone except immediate family. Even on the phone!! It restricts my life and causes me so much distress and embarrassment and has done ALL my bloody life and I'm sooooo sick of it. Am I unreasonable to expect that in my mid 30's I should have a little more self confidence and composure? I actually have pretty good self esteem, am reasonably intelligent, have managed to get married and have a family, but I must come across as some sort of nervous shy bright red weirdo to most people.

OP posts:

Feminine · 02/10/2013 21:04

I'll bet most people don't even notice.

SPsTwerkingNineToFive · 02/10/2013 21:05

I have this! Even though I dont feel embarrassed my face does. Then I feel it happening then blush more as now I am embarrassed

Feminine · 02/10/2013 21:06

In fact, as you are so over it. I'd just let it happen but carry on a normal.

Your body will probably stop doing it once you accept it is what you do.

People are so wrapped up in themselves, they are probably having the same issue.

LittleMissGerardLouiseButler · 02/10/2013 21:07

I do this too, and as SPs says the more conscious I am and the more I try to stop it, the more it happens!

Unfortunately I don't think there's anything that can stop it? I hope I'm wrong.

happyhorse · 02/10/2013 21:17

Oh people do notice, and the more helpful amongst them feel the need to let you know that you've gone bright red. Arses. I sympathise OP.

verytellytubby · 02/10/2013 21:19

I'm 40 and blushed three times today. Neck rash too. Joy!!

SPsTwerkingNineToFive · 02/10/2013 21:20

People like to tell you that you are red.

BeauticianNotMagician · 02/10/2013 21:20

I suffer terribly with this. I often go red even at the checkout. It's so awful that its getting to the stage I want to avoid certain events etc.

I'm ok with some family but not all. Mine is mostly a case of not liking any attention on me at all. I blush at my worst when anyone mentions anything sexual. Yet I would happily discuss all with my friends and I have 3 children so obviously not shy about sex in anyway

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2013 21:21

I did a massive blush today. Bumped into a neighbour in town. I get the rashy chest too-usually making complainy phone calls.

SPsTwerkingNineToFive · 02/10/2013 21:24

I get a rashy neck and chest when I get stressed

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2013 21:26

If I went for a job interview I would be sat there like a big beacon head with a scarlet chest. Desirable employee or what?

LittleMissGerardLouiseButler · 02/10/2013 21:26

I blush in work when I see people I know, like if my neighbours come in, yet I'm fine with customers that I know just from work, I blush when managers talk to me too!

And yes I hate it too when people point it out!

BeauticianNotMagician · 02/10/2013 21:30

If anyone points it out which they usually helpfully do my face and neck get so hot I feel I could explode

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2013 21:31

Once you are made aware of it then it just gets out of control.

worsestershiresauce · 02/10/2013 21:34

I god, I do this. They had a special little trick at uni to make me blush. Someone on the other side of the lecture hall would lick their finger, touch it to their face and say 'Ssssizzzzzzz..'. I'd burn up.

The worst of the worst of the worst thing about it is I only do this with people I know a little bit. Not total strangers. So I have an understandable paranoia that blokes I vaguely know all think I fancy them, what with me going scarlet at their mere presence and everything. So I blush even more and run away.

I am 40 too

Aggadoo · 02/10/2013 21:36

I have this too! Sounds so familiar - I am not working right now but I did exactly what LittleMiss does - blush when someone I know came in to work, at meetings, in checkout, in a group if someone asks me a q and everyone looks at you to answer, blush when speaking to managers (so embarrassing esp when one was such a creep and then thought I fancied him cos I would blush....I so did not fancy him), it's just that once its in my head that I might blush then I inevitably do and yes people point it out. At one point I did consider a sympathectomy operation. It has held me back for sure, I would love to be a teacher but having to talk to parents at beginning of term and meet the teacher sessions ..... no way. I would look so unprofessional. I hate it. I am sociable and have 3 kids, a partner. I just live with it, it's defined my choices in my life though.

Feminine · 02/10/2013 21:37

I think its really cruel to point it out.

Amandine29 · 02/10/2013 21:38

This used to happen to me. I also used to become embarrassed because I was blushing and therefore blush even more. And people certainly do like to ask about it. Luckily it just stopped when I was 20 but I understand how debilitating it can be.

Ridersofthestorm · 02/10/2013 21:43

Op I could have written your thread, I am exactly the same, an adult who still blushes like a schoolgirl.
I absolutely hate it, I don't look people in the eye when talking to them anymore because I go so red. As a consequence it makes me more nervous in social situations and work.
You would think I would be used to it by now, I've done it my whole life, but no. The thing is when you go red you get really embarrassed and then get redder, and then some twerp says "oh look you've gone so red", at that point I want the ground to open up and swallow me. I try and deal with it now by laughing it off, counting down from ten to one in my head and taking deep breaths. That usually works, but god yeah it's awful, the total embarrassment of it all.

Almostfifty · 02/10/2013 21:46

I hate to say it, but I still blush and I'm almost fifty.

I just ignore myself now.

BetteDavis01 · 02/10/2013 21:47

I blush excessively, face, neck and chest. I have done, ever since I was a child. It's so humiliating. I seem to blush for no reason.

For years I used to wear make up everyday on my face and neck, and if wearing a low cut top, on my chest too.

However, I decided enough was enough and I went to see my doctor this year. He was great; he said women are far more prone to this than men, especially those with a pale complexion. I've been given some medication and it has definitely helped.

Please don't suffer in silence.

impatienttobemummy · 02/10/2013 21:48

I do this! I just push through it as I found it was really holding me back. If I feel one coming I mention it before they do saying ooh I'm having a hot flush I find that helps me

Original poster

FaresPlease · 02/10/2013 21:50

Oh golly, so many familiar stories and scenarios there. I too would have loved to teach, and would have been good at it! Apart from my big red head of course!

Always longing for some miracle cure to appear. Anyone considered cognitive behavioural therapy?

OP posts:

kalms1971 · 02/10/2013 21:53

medication for blushing? That would be a godsend to me. I blush at any stress, so much so it makes me feel faint. I swear my body temp goes up, even the skin on my arms goes pink.

Aggadoo · 02/10/2013 21:54

What medication did you have BetteDavis? I told my doctor and nothing came of it, she asked if I stopped work because of it (no, but it's directed my choices), I think she felt it wasn't extreme enough. I felt too embarrassed about it to bring it up again.

Flip

1 2 3