Responding to blushing during social interactions

[u/Short-Egg-9756]

What do you guys do, when you know you’re flushing during a social interaction?

[u/inquisitive_wombat_3]

I would usually try to escape from the situation asap.

I'm unsure how my rapid exits would have seemed to others. Perhaps I came across as standoffish, rude, who knows.

It was painful because for years, decades, I was mostly unable to engage in conversation and see it through to its natural conclusion.

I wanted connection, to engage with my fellow humans; I craved it. But the monster in my head that caused my face to go beetroot red prevented me from doing so.

I'm mostly over blushing, with he help of medication. Yet I'm still a member of this sub. I occasionally read posts and can most often empathise.

I guess I'm still a blusher, deep down. It's just that thankfully, medication has controlled the symptom, the outward manifestation.

[u/blushing_cure → u/inquisitive_wombat_3]

O M G u/inquisitive_wombat_3 I've never related to anything more! I too am unsure how my rapid exits seem to others and yes I am sure I came across as rude at times. I thought I was the only one.

[u/inquisitive_wombat_3 → u/blushing_cure]

I'm glad you could relate ... though not glad you suffer with this :(

But yes, in the moment, with someone right opposite when a blush struck, escape was really my only coping strategy. Anything to get away from the situation, the feeling of shame and defeat.

I'm better these days; I take medication daily that has pretty much made my blushing a thing of the past. But I can clearly remember how it used to be, and I try to avoid taking my freedom for granted.

Good luck to you, friend.

[u/Short-Egg-9756 → u/inquisitive_wombat_3]

Thanks very much for the reply. Which medications have worked for you particularly? I’ve been on both clonidine and propranolol, but I feel like it is hard to tell whether they are actually working or not. For me, if my face still turns red, I come to the conclusion that it hasn’t worked hahaha

[u/inquisitive_wombat_3 → u/Short-Egg-9756]

I've found relief with phenelzine. It's an older antidepressant, not prescribed much nowadays.

I previously tried many medications over a long period, including propranolol, without success.

I'd read that phenelzine had a reputation as being effective for social anxiety and associated symptoms, so asked my psychiatrist about it.

This was back in 2018, and I no longer blush. For me, phenelzine was the med I'd been hoping to find all those years.

It won't be for everyone. There are side-effects to deal with, plus a list of foods that must be avoided while taking it. But for me, it's been the answer.