Phobias Types Erythrophobia: Fear of Blushing By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 23, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print PhotoAlto / Frederic Cirou / Getty Images Erythrophobia, or the fear of blushing, is a relatively complex phobia to overcome. Blushing is a physiological response to, among other things, anxiety and embarrasment. This makes erythrophobia one of the few self-perpetuating phobias, meaning that the more you worry, the more likely you are to experience your object of fear. How the Blushing Response Works Blushing occurs automatically, like the fight or flight response, and is an involuntary reaction triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. When we are anxious or embarrassed, our bodies are flooded with epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which causes us to experience very real physiological symptoms. In addition to increasing the heart rate, suppressing the digestive system, and inhibiting pain, epinephrine may also act as a vasodilator on certain blood vessels. It causes blood vessels to widen, improving the flow of blood and oxygen throughout particular regions of the body. Blushing is an unfortunate side effect of the vasodilation of certain veins in the face. As these blood vessels in the face grow wider, the increased circulation causes the cheeks to redden. Vasodilation sometimes occurs for other reasons, including alcohol consumption and certain medical conditions. No matter what the underlying cause, those with erythrophobia are likely to become anxious and embarrassed when it occurs. This leads to a vicious cycle in which the blushing is likely to become worse and worse. Social Phobia The fear of blushing can be a symptom of social anxiety disorder (social phobia). The fear generally is not of the blushing reaction itself, but rather of the attention that it might draw from others. If we are anxious or embarrassed, the last thing we want is further attention. The blushing is usually accompanied by a variety of negative thoughts that all focus on how we might be perceived. This, in turn, heightens the level of blushing, which further fuels the negative thoughts and then causes us to feel even more anxious or embarrassed. Symptoms Ironically, the strongest symptom of the fear of blushing is generally further blushing. As you perceive that you are losing control of the situation, you will likely grow redder and redder. In addition, you may experience such common phobia symptoms as shaking, sweating, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing normally. You might stumble over your words or find it impossible to continue a conversation at all. Over time, you might begin to develop anticipatory anxiety, in which you dread finding yourself in a situation that might cause you to blush. You might begin to avoid certain social situations or, in extreme cases, avoid going out at all. You might also develop additional social phobias, such as stage fright or the fear of eating in front of others, because of a fear that those activities might trigger a blushing reaction. Treatment Treatment depends on the severity and complexity of the symptoms. Often, the fear is not actually of the blushing response itself, but of the reactions that you perceive others might have to your blushing. Brief therapy options, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), treat the phobia by teaching you new thought patterns and behaviors that help lessen the fear. Medications are also available and are most often used in addition to therapy. In addition to therapy and medication, surgery is available to limit blushing in rare instances but is not generally a recommended method for treating erythrophobia. 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rot M, Rot M, Moskowitz D, De jong P. Intrapersonal and interpersonal concomitants of facial blushing during everyday social encounters. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(2):e0118243. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0118243 Stefaniak T. Erythrophobia--problems of diagnostics and treatment. Pol Przegl Chir. 2012;84(6):322-7. doi:10.2478/v10035-012-0054-8 Additional Reading American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC. Social Anxiety Institute. Is Blushing a Symptom of Social Anxiety? By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for Phobias Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.