Why Do I Blush?

Why Do I Blush?

Why Do I Blush?

You know how it is...

You're walking down a busy street minding your own business when you stub your toe and nearly trip up.

Catching yourself, you feel a bit embarrassed and carry on walking hoping nobody noticed.

Some steps later you take a deep breath, you feel a bit warm, a bit hyper and there are butterflies in your stomach.

Don't worry - you're only blushing.

Why Do I Blush?

Blushing is caused by blood flowing to the network of tiny blood vessels just under the skin. It's most common on your face, ears, neck and chest.

There are some medical conditions that can cause blushing. It can also be a side-effect of some medications. For most of us however, its normally a reaction to embarrassment, anxiety or stress.

Blushing is actually a natural reaction to stress. It has evolved as part of what is called our 'fight or flight' response.

It's part of your body's preparation to face potential danger.

Thousands of years ago we had to choose to either fight or run away from predators. As preparation for all this fighting or running our adrenaline levels rise - causing our heart rate and breathing to increase in order to deliver more blood and oxygen to the muscles.

So why does this happen when we are embarrassed?

The primitive part of the brain responsible for activating this response (the amygdala) cannot tell the difference between social anxiety and fear. Between mortal danger and mere embarrassment.

So when you get embarrassed, the same physical responses occur just as if a sabre tooth tiger had jumped out of the bushes in front of you.

For some people the neural connection between embarrassment and this primal fear reaction becomes confused.

For most people embarrassment fades quickly - but not for everyone.

Firstly, they become embarrassed about being embarrassed - blushing because they are blushing - and then a fear of the circumstance which caused the embarrassment sets in - "I don't want to do that again, the last time I did that, it was embarrassing...".

Your previously self-protective fear mechanism starts to work against you.

Unchecked, this can lead to a condition called Social Anxiety. The fear response can go on to pollute your thoughts and feelings and can make some common situations - like meeting new people or starting a new job - seem difficult to cope with.

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