Blushing - help!

[RazzleMazzle]

AIBU for blushing as a 30-something? I have the WORST blushing problem. I’m a manager who oversees a team of a dozen, and work in a very social environment. I have no real confidence issues at all, but I have the most embarrassing blushing problem. In any team meeting, I’m brick red; in one-to-ones, I’m like a fire engine. It’s something that’s affected me most of my life. But…I’m in my early 30s and assumed I’d grow out of it by now. It affects so much of my life, and I even feel it’s inhibiting my career progression as I avoid situations and ‘stepping up’ into senior roles so as to avoid potential blushing triggers. Ive tried ‘not caring’ (doesn’t work); and I’m not going to get any medical intervention. So…does anyone have any advice/workarounds?

I'm 31. Exactly the same. And the if I notice I get even worse!

Are you sure you don't have rosacea?

No advice but following as I have the exact same problem (I'm 32)! I find make up covers it on my face but I get it bad on my neck and chest. I hate it

I think you just have to own it.

Not going to lie, if it happened in our 1:1 it would probably make me laugh, unless you were completely unphazed about it and remain confident and professional.

I used to have this problem and a friend recommended this technique. Crazy but it works!

The idea is that you can’t make yourself blush. Try it…you can’t do it.

So when you feel yourself about to blush, or starting to go red, think to yourself “go red” and try as hard as you can to blush and you’ll find that you just won’t. I don’t know whether it overrides or distracts your body’s mechanism or what but it definitely works for me!

@SwearyMaclary thank you! That’s really, really helpful advice; will try that!

@7Worfs haha - yeah, no laughing yet - I’m pretty profesh and just plough on through when it happens!

@AllThingsServeTheBeam 100% as soon as you can feel it happening, it just gets worse; I end up so distracted by it that I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing 😫

@Tootsey11 no, def not! I’m actually very pale normally!

Oh god I’m the same, I literally can’t help it, especially in meetings where I need to be a bit assertive, such a shitty cycle as well. I’m going to try the ‘go red’ suggestion thanks @SwearyMaclary!

@AcceptYourself - ah, that’s interesting; I don’t wear make-up, so could be a good solution! Thank you

Omg this is my life
It happened the other day and my friend said oh you have a rash... I pretended I must be allergic to the necklace I was wearing
No just blotchy from blushing

I actually find it worse on my chest because like you said, makeup covers the face somewhat
I've started choosing outfits that cover my chest and arms now!
My sister is the same

It's a fucking nightmare but just one of those things I guess

Yep I can relate. I’d definitely recommend mentioning it - I found if I mentioned it before they did it seemed to help.
I hate myself for it and get very frustrated. I’ve definitely held myself back from progressing. But pushing through it and making myself do things had helped.

I have this too. Always have, and I’m 32 now. Make up is fine for my face but my neck and chest area to beetroot

I found a weird but good side effect of taking setraline was markedly reducing blushing.

[quote RazzleMazzle]@AllThingsServeTheBeam 100% as soon as you can feel it happening, it just gets worse; I end up so distracted by it that I can’t concentrate on what I’m doing 😫[/quote]
Try learning mindfulness it can help to train yourself to put your focus outward on the thing you want to concentrate on (ie the work, what other people are saying etc)
I got hot flushes for a while (due to a particular medication) and found it helped to have acceptance of it plus focusing and refocusing on the task/person

I'd recommend watching Grey's Anatomy season 2 episode 3, it will either provide you with answers, turn you into a hypochondriac or make you feel better about yourself (or make you wish Derek Shepherd was your doctor).

I got a green primer and put it on under my foundation. It works.

I hate to tell you that I'm in my late fifties...

Mirvaso cream is good for this. And beta blockers!

@Movelikewater Yes - I hear you! It’s the cycle of ‘am I going to blush?’ Yes I have so then I’ll end up doing it again in the same or similar situation. It just perpetuates it. Weirdly though: in obviously embarrassing and stressful situations, I don’t blush, as I know it’s acceptable then. It proves it’s entirely psychological!

@dreammattemousse poor you! I’m constantly telling porkies: ‘oh, I’m not feeling well’; ‘just rushed to get here so a bit flushed’ etc etc - all rubbish - I’m just blushing like an idiot!

@Enterthedragons thank you - will check that out!

@AuntyMabelandPippin thanks - I fully expect to be posting this or similar in my 50s too! Ha!

@littlemissbananasplit intriguing!!

I have this sooooo bad but luckily with fake tan and foundation you can't notice it but I can still feel it