Embarrassment

What is embarrassment?

Often grouped with shame and guilt, embarrassment is considered a ‘self-conscious’ emotion, and because it is linked to self-esteem issues, it can have a negative effect on a person’s thoughts and behaviour patterns. People who get embarrassed easily are usually those who are very conscious of social norms, and when embarrassed, are concerned that if social norms are be compromised, some people will no longer regard them as highly as before. 

Embarrassment is a very individual experience and is often made worse by the fear that everyone is watching. In reality, most people do not even notice anything.

Does everyone get embarrassed?

If you have suffered embarrassment, then you are one of millions who have found themselves in an awkward, humiliating, or a compromising situation at some time in life. Some folk are able to laugh off an embarrassing mistake, while others fear the disapproval of the group and may be consumed by shame. 

People who have an issue of social anxiety where their behaviour needs to absolutely correct, are especially sensitive to embarrassment. They go out of their way to avoid situations where they might possibly make a mistake and embarrass themselves, and are usually mortified if an issue of embarrassment happens to arise. These folk tends to be more sensitive than others, and an embarrassing experience may lead to anxiety, and panic whenever they think about it. 

Embarrassing experiences over time may also lead to a major lack of self-confidence and lower self-esteem.

Some examples of irrational responses to embarrassing experiences.

Here are some of the feelings you may have when you are embarrassed:

•  A feeling of awkwardness and self-consciousness can make what should be a good time really difficult for you.

•  You could end up blushing or stammering, and a feeling that everyone is watching your every move. 

• Being embarrassed easily may prevent you from thinking clearly or acting naturally among people.

• Embarrassment and extreme shyness are often closely linked and may hold you back from forming friendships or close ties with people.

Constant embarrassment and your responses to it can stop you from living a fulfilled life, leading you to avoid social gatherings for fear that you may be embarrassed in some way.     

How to overcome embarrassment.

Studies have shown that there is no magic pill or any other type of medicine that can treat over-sensitivity to embarrassment and its related issues. However, mental health experts recommend that because the origin of embarrassment is rooted in the mind, hypnotherapy is the best way to deal successfully with it. 

The main root of embarrassment is self-consciousness (sometimes low self-esteem) which goes into action the moment the focus of attention swings to you. Hypnosis helps you to make constructive use of the attention focus, by teaching you to control your own attention, so that when you need to ignore the attention on yourself – you are able to do it.

• Hypnosis will begin the process of replacing the responses to embarrassment in certain situations with calmness. This will help you to think clearly and act naturally during those times.

• You will learn how to use embarrassment and perceived humiliation as an opportunity to grown stronger by not responding in a harmful way.

• Hypnotherapy can help you to create a new mindset that will enable you to stop worrying about what people think about you. 

•  You be encouraged to focus less on yourself, and be aware of all the positives in your life, instead of drowning in embarrassment if incidents occur.

 Extreme embarrassment will no longer be a sore which will not heal. You will know that something has changed when you think you should be embarrassed about something – but happily find there are no embarrassing feelings.

Hypnotherapy and NLP by a trained therapist is the key to eliminating destructive feelings of embarrassment.