I have a problem. I’ve always had this problem, but only realised it was a problem when my primary school peers started to tease me about it. I go red. Chronically.
I have a problem. I’ve always had this problem, but only realised it was a problem when my primary school peers started to tease me about it. I go red. Chronically.
There’s almost nothing in the world that doesn’t make me blush. I have a very guilty face. Whenever someone got into trouble at school I’d blush on their behalf.
This has not changed, in fact I think the situation might have been aggravated in recent years, what with hormones and looming adulthood all over the place.
It’s especially annoying when I must interview someone and I turn red. But it’s also not always one type of emotion that accompanies the red stain on my face.
The first and most obvious one is embarrassment, but then there are also various other temperaments that follow: rage, sadness, happiness, glee, joy, excitement, every possible feeling I can feel comes with a free, fresh batch of rosy cheeks!
I often find my self changing colour first, and the respective mood follows, which is then intensified by my awareness of the redness, which perpetuates the cycle.
This sordid hand I’ve been dealt evokes different responses from different people. They either think I’m shy, weird, drunk or in love with them.
My scarlet exterior is often met with puzzled glances, suggestive smiles or outright cries of “what’s wrong with you?” Another crazy element is that I don’t just turn on the heat in my face.
When I blush, my entire body follows suit. The stain spreads from the top of my forehead to my burning ears, down my throat and chest, my arms and legs.
It makes for amusing dinner conversation, as eating also makes me go red. So does walking, working, typing, writing, the list goes on and on. Involuntary blushing can happen occasionally in moments of embarrassment or stress.
Chronic blushing is caused by an over active sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the involuntary central nervous system.
Severe blushing occurs due to persistent or extreme anxiety in social or performance situations, for fear of being criticised or humiliated.
There is a drug available in America called Eredicane which is supposed to cure my condition, but somehow the idea of being a slave to the daily tablet doesn’t appeal to me on any level.
My solution then is isolation. I should go live somewhere in a secluded cottage where I can blush to my heart’s content without the grief of having to explain myself.
Yes I have a condition. No it’s not curable. No I don’t want breakfast and taxi fare home. When I was seven all I wanted for Christmas was my two front teeth. Now I’d like some concealer or a new skin please!
