Red face when speaking

LegacyUser

I have a problem with my face going red when I'm in a meeting at work and have to speak. I don't mind public speaking and my job means I have to attend a lot of meetings, but I hate the way my face just burns up and goes red when I'm speaking.

I'm a big bloke, pretty muscular and this red face just looks ridiculous. Sometimes it moves down my neck to. People always point it out to me to and I find it really embarrassing. The thought of it sometimes stops me speaking to.

Had anyone ideas on how I can prevent this? Or tips to make it more manageable?

Rubberchikken

I think it's the kind of thing that the more you think about it the worse it gets so try breathing deeply and relax.

It doesn't help when others 'helpfully' point it out but try hard to ignore them.
Good luck

RedBell

I had a similar problem but more extreme. I couldn't even meet a friend in the street or go get served in a shop without going bright red.

I saw dermatologists, the lot. This went on for about 2 years and led to serious anxiety issues for me in social situations. Eventually I went to a hypnotherapist. It was sorted in about 3 months. It didn't happen overnight. It happened, as the hypnotherapist predicted, gradually, until one day I realised that I wasn't blushing any more

seamus

You don't mind public speaking, but clearly you still find yourself self-conscious when you get up there to do it.

Most people do, to a certain extent, but the more you do it the less it will impact you when you do it.

I would strongly suggest taking a course in public speaking, preferably a group course rather than a one-to-one. A group setting is more daunting, but it will give you practice speaking to a room of people and you will learn to shed your self-consciousness around strangers and become more confident in how you come across.

As rubberchikken states, this becomes a negative feedback loop - you're aware of it so spend your meetings hoping that no-one will ask you a question, and going bright(er) red whenever they do.

Fluxfan

This happens to me as well. Its headwrecking. I find the best way to deal with it and address it. Say "jes it's very hot in here isnt it", or make a joke of it if at all possible. Anytime I have been able to do this, the red face went straight away. Also, always bring a glass of water with you to meetings. If you are speaking and know you're going red, stop and take a sip of water, it cools you down, and also takes the attention away (in your head) for a second. Again, this has helped me to regain some whiteness

Have a google , there are lots of different techniques. I had a 3 hour lecture to give before a couple of years ago and I was absolutely shítting it as I knew I'd be red faced, but I applied as many techniques as I could manage and got through it relatively white faced!