Erythrophobia: the fear of blushing (the fear of turning red).

Affected individuals have a great fear of blushing in public.

We are all, to a greater or lesser extent, social animals. And as such, we have a natural tendency to worry about what others think or say about us.

It is in this social nature that much of our yearning as people takes place, since, for better or worse, socialization greatly affects our self-concept and self-esteem.

What is Erythrophobia?

The Erythrophobia is a specific phobia that is found within the group of social phobias. Erythrophobia is the fear of blushing. When the person with this phobia turns red in public, he/she reacts in a negative way, feeling ashamed of him/herself. This leads to an increase in the anxiety they experience, and further blushing may occur.

Causes of Erythrophobia

Being in a social environment where you may eventually be the center of attention. center of attention can trigger facial blushing, even if the attention received is not negative. Under the watchful eye of others, the affected person may fear criticism, scorn or humiliation from the group.

Generally, facial blushing begins in childhood or adolescence, where it is not uncommon for the subject to have been teased for blushing. This generates embarrassment in the affected person and turns blushing into a reaction experienced as negative, being ridiculed by others.

Consequences and psychological effects

The fear of blushing generates anxiety. A vicious circle occurs in which the fear of blushing itself can trigger blushing. Faced with this intense fear that a social situation may trigger blushing, there is a tendency to avoid such social encounters.

Since the fear of blushing emphasizes the anxiety of blushing, predictable situations may become more and more numerous, and this fear may remain and consolidate during adulthood.

Social phobia: the genesis of blushing?

Social phobia could be defined as the pathological shyness of being in situations where one shares space and interaction with other people. The subject with social phobia feels severe and persistent fear and anxiety in different social situations, such as interacting with other people or simply being observed. This condition significantly hinders the development of the affected person's daily life.

Although people who suffer from some type of social phobia are aware that their feelings are not rational, they experience a strong mistrust of others. strong distrust to face the situation that makes them afraid. Thus, they resort to certain defense mechanisms, such as trying to avoid the situation at all costs, which leads to more and more situations being avoided, and they enter a spiral of isolation that compromises the social dimension of the person and their personal development at this level.

It is also very frequent that the person suffering from social phobia constantly worries and experiences anticipatory anxiety The possibility that others will judge them and think that they are weak, weird, unintelligent or hysterical individuals.

Blushing: is it bad?

Blushing, in itself, is not a pathology, nor is it generally a symptom of any disorder.. Blushing is a completely normal bodily reaction and it is not necessary to follow any guidelines or treatment to avoid it. The scenario in which turning red can be an element that accentuates an underlying psychological disorder and this affects the normal daily development of the person, may be sufficient reason to take some measures, since we are dealing with a case of Erythrophobia.

Incidence

Approximately 70% of people suffering from social phobia also suffer from Erythrophobia.. A research led by the University of Braunschweig, in Germany, compared the frequency with which intense blushing occurs in people from eight countries. From most to least inclined to blush intensely, the study reported: Japanese, Koreans, Spaniards, Germans, Austrians, Canadians, Dutch and, lastly and as the least likely to blush, Americans.

Conclusions

The cause of the fear of blushing should not be avoided but rather be confronted. It is possible that if you suffer from Erythrophobia, you may be able to overcome this fear thanks to some specialized books and the help and confidence that your friends and relatives give you.

In other cases, the intense and persistent fear will require therapeutic support. therapeutic support of a professional of clinical psychology. Only in very extreme cases this condition will require a systematic and multilevel control, in which pharmacological treatment may be necessary.