First I have to thank everyone for their posts....I can sooo relate to many of them! Wouldn't it be nice if I could stop getting blotches on my chest because I know others have the same problem! I wish that would work! But right know I am blotching just from writing this and reading everyone's experiances. It's been that kind of day!
Really, as many of you can relate, this is really impacting the quality of my life. And I consider myself a outgoing person who enjoys socializing and talking to people. That is until this problem has gone from bad to worse. Now, I live in fear of the anticipated chest and neck blotches! And they come...several times a day for no reason at all. So I find myself dreading going to work or making plans with even close family and friends. Mearly talking with someone I even like at work can bring them on for no reason at all! Imagine when I have to assert myself with someone I don't care for! It can be a hot mess literally! It has gotten to the point that I will get them just because I know I am not wearing a turtle neck, if that makes sense. I hate turtlenecks and am so sick of them! It's pathetic when you go to a funeral to support a childhood friend who lost her dad, but end up making her uncomfortable because I had red blotches all over. Any emotion I will get them. If I'm not nervous I will still get them and they will make me anxious cause I know I have them!
This started during grad school when I had to give presentations. I could accept them because it seems somewhat normal to get red or nervous when public speaking. Many people do. But, since then it has become an everyday experiance. It is total torture because it is totally weird, makes me feel like a complete mess, and takes away from the my true potential as a person in many ways.
I don't know what first step to take in handeling this problem other than becoming a turtle neck wearing hermit! This is robbing me from the basic good stuff in life, like baby showers (not even mine!), entertaining, advancing my career, interacting with others,parent teacher conferences, wearing a cute necklace, etc.... This list goes on and on! HELP!