Most people who suffer from anxiety report blood circulation problems in general, and flushing in particular. It’s actually fairly common for patients to report anxiousness caused by inexplicable and sudden flushing; one minute everything seems fine, and the other minute you may realize that your face or your hands are flushed red. While this may seem quite disturbing especially when experienced by a person who is overridden with anxiety and prone to panic attacks, truth of the matter is that it’s usually of no consequence. More likely than not it’s just a part of the fight or flight response, which is actually a biological mechanism meant to help preserve your life in situations of physical danger.
You have heard about the fight or flight response before, right? In simple terms, this is a chain reaction that occurs instinctively when you feel threatened. In ancient times, it was meant to keep you alert and ready to confront eminent and sudden dangers. In present times it is most often experienced as a danger in and of itself- although there’s nothing too alarming about it. When this biological response is triggered by anxiety, blood will rush to your extremities, since that’s where you would normally need the most energy when trying to confront a predator or threat: in your arms and legs.
In other words, you must keep in mind that you have problems with anxiety, of which flushing is just a minor consequence- although you may want to check with a medical doctor to know for sure whether the flushing means anything may be wrong in your body.
Anxiety is actually a survival mechanism meant to keep us alert and vigilant to the surrounding world; but in this modern day and age, many people develop anxiety disorders because they are surrounded by too much stress and worries. When you realize that anxiety is taking over your life, you should think of that as a wake-up call: it means you have to take action to change your lifestyle patters in order to reclaim your comfort zone.
There’s no point in thinking of anxiety as a terrible, ominous sickness- because that will only make it seem more powerful. If you want to overcome anxiety disorder and be free of its unpleasant effects such as flushing, you should get regular physical exercise, cut down on stimulants such as coffee and refine sugars, and adopt relaxation therapies that will help you cope with stress. You may want to try doing meditation, yoga, chi kung, or try doing arts and crafts or get a new hobby. In fact, you should try different things to see what works for you. Remember, by following a natural anxiety management program, you won’t just be working to alleviate your stress, but you’ll also improve your health and well-being on the long run.
