Stop Blushing : Hypnosis For Blushing
If you suffer from chronic blushing, know that you’re not alone: up to 60% of the population experiences some form of facial blushing. And while it's a common problem, there is hope: hypnosis and other forms of behavioral therapy can help you stop blushing.
In this post we'll provide an overview of what causes blushing and offer step-by-step instructions for how to stop blushing with hypnosis. Whether you're new to the idea or considering it as your last resort, we'll cover everything in between — including where to find a professional hypnotherapist who can help!
Hopefully this post helps anyone looking for solutions.
Note: If you're just here for the stop blushing hypnosis MP3, head to the bottom of this post.
Having trouble stopping blushing? Learn why here...
What causes blushing?
When most people think of a person blushing, they often think it's due to embarrassment or shame... but that's not always the case! It turns out that only around 50% of facial blushers actually feel embarrassed when they blush. The other half (and sometimes even more) are "cognitive blushers"... meaning that they don't feel any shame or embarrassment in those moments.
The majority of blushers (around 80%) feel embarrassed when their face gets red... but only a third of the blushers actually experience intense feelings of embarrassment, fear or panic.
In fact, the overwhelming majority of blushers (around 90%) think they "should" be embarrassed when they blush — but all that being said, do you really want to feel pressured by society? Blushing is hard enough on its own without worrying about being judged for it!
How common is facial blushing?
While there are no official statistics on how common facial blushing is, there are a few studies that have attempted to come up with rough estimates. While all the numbers vary a bit from study to study, they tend to fall somewhere in the 60%-100% range.
In one study published in 1998, researchers surveyed 873 people about their blushing habits and found that 29.7% of the population suffers from "facial blushing" — with an additional 21.4% experiencing "throbbing or heat sensations" on their face. That's a whopping 50% of the general population!
In another 1998 study that focused specifically on persistent facial blushing, researchers found that 33% of the general population suffers from "chronic facial blushing.”
What causes blushing? Are you at fault?
The short answer is "yes... but it's not your fault."
Blushing is the result of a physical reaction in the nervous system. In fact, researchers have found that the same part of your brain that controls sweating also controls blushing! This means that if you suffer from excessive facial blushing, then you're probably also excessively sweating. And while this may be embarrassing to think about, it also means it's completely normal and nothing to feel ashamed about. You've just got one more thing in common with everyone else! :] (Or at least a few more things. We all have something in common with each other. :D)
And while it might be tempting to blame your blushing on something you did or said, the reality is that most people that experience facial blushing don't seem to be at fault at all. Studies have found that "blushing" tends to run in families and is present from a very young age. This means you probably didn't do anything wrong! You didn't over exercise, eat spicy food or do anything else you can think of... and neither did your parents!
Are you a "cognitive blusher"? Here's what to do about it...
So you feel embarrassed when your face gets red, but you don't feel ashamed. You still want to stop blushing... right?
But what if you're truly a cognitive blusher? You haven't done anything wrong, but all the same it feels like your face should be blushing when it gets red. It's as if part of your brain is just making a mistake!
The good news is that cognitive blushers are very common and there's a lot we can do to help you in this case. There are two main strategies — both of which can help reduce your "cognitive blushers".
1. Learn about your blushing style .
Rather than trying to avoid thoughts or memories that trigger blushing, cognitive blushers are often better off trying to develop a better understanding of their facial blushing triggers. For example, if you're an anticipator — someone who has a tendency to worry about the future— you might start by testing how much your face gets red when you're relaxing and when you're concerned about something that might happen in the future. See if there is any difference at all!
Then it's time to get out there and test this theory! Try out some of your worries and see if they actually have anything to do with your face getting red. Take note of your facial blushing patterns and see if they change during times of worry, stress or excitement. If they do change, you just may be a cognitive blusher!
What's your anticipatory style? Take the quiz, here...
2. Develop an "anticipation coping strategy".
If the above techniques don't work for you, there is something positive you can do: learn how to develop anticipation coping strategies! These are like mental exercises that help to reduce blushing. There are many different strategies you can try, so the key is to find one that works best for you. Check out the section below to see a few key examples.
One of the most powerful strategies is to distract yourself by focusing on something else. The blushing caused by anticipatory cognitive blushing usually only lasts a few seconds... so it's easy to get over it if you can manage to focus your attention away from your face! You can also try changing your expectations, thoughts or behaviors... or even doing nothing at all! Anything that works will do.
But how long does it take to stop blushing?
The good news is that many cognitive blushers can reduce their facial blushing in as little as a few weeks. This is the case for most of my clients. The bad news is that "cognitive blushers" are the most stubborn type of facial blusher, so if you're one of these people then it may take a bit longer before you reach your goal. You could even be facing a 6-month or 1-year challenge. But no worries! Even if you've been trying for years, it doesn't mean that nothing will work for you ever. It only means that things might be a bit more challenging than they are for other people...
Conclusion: What causes facial blushing?
As you can see, there are many different types of facial blushing. Some people are ashamed of it, some people like to call it a "beauty mark" and others don't care at all! However you want to describe it, you've now got the information you need to understand what's really behind your red face. And the next time someone asks, you can tell them: "I may suffer from facial blushing but I'm not at fault...